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NOBLE  DEEDS 


OF 


AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


Edited  by  J.  Clement. 


WITH  AX  INTRODUCTION 


BY 

MBS.  L.  H.  SIGOURNEY. 


ILLUSTRATED . 


BOSTON: 

LEE  AND  SHEPARD,  PUBLISHERS. 
UNHEW  YORK  : 

LEE,  SHEPARD  AND  DILLINGHAM. 
1875. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1851,  by 

( EO.  >1.  DERBY  & G>, 

In  the  Clerk’s  Office  of  the  Northern  District  of  New  k'orc. 


39k. 9 
C 5"S  -h 
I M'T 


J&foir’s  ^iref^ee. 


This  work  was  suggested  by  one  of 
similar  character,  entitled  “Noble  Deeds 
of  Woman,”  an  English  work,  which  con- 
tains but  three  references  to  American 
Women,  two  of  which  are  of  but  very 
little  importance.  Only  one  article  is  the 
^ same  in  both  works,  and  that  is  the  letter 
written  by  Mrs.  Sigourney  to  the  women 
'of  Greece,  in  1828, 

' in  behalf  of  the  ladies 
; of  Hartford. 

This  failure  to  do 
^justice  to  American 
women,  may  have 
* been  an  oversight ; be 
that  as  it  may,  a work 
’ of  the  kind  here  pre- 
sented, seemed  to  be 
needed,  and  we  regret 
that  its  preparation 
had  not  been  assigned 
to  an  abler  pen.  Mul- 
titudes of  works  have 
been  consulted,  and 
such  anecdotes  glean- 
ed as  it  is  thought  will 


373565 


VI 


PREFACE. 


have  a salutary  influence  on  the  mind  and  heart.  Should 
the  records  of  female  courage  and  virtue  herein  presented 
to  the  daughters  of  the  land,  encourage,  even  in  the  slight, 
est  degree,  a laudable  spirit  of  emulation,  our  humble  labors 
will  not  have  been  put  forth  in  vain. 

Facts  are  more  sublime  than  Actions ; and  American 
women  have  actually  performed  all  the  good,  and  grand, 
and  glorious  deeds  which  the  honest  and  judicious  novelist 
dares  ascribe  to  the  female  sex;  hence  we  have  found  no 
occasion,  in  striving  to  make  this  work  interesting,  to  deviate 
from  the  path  of  historical  truth. 

The  sources  whence  our  materials  have  been  derived,  are 
largely  indicated  in  the  body  of  the  work.  Possibly,  how- 
ever, we  may  have  failed,  in  some  instances,  to  indicate  our 
* indebtedness  to  historians  and  biographers  where  such  refer- 
ence was  justly  demanded;  suffice  it  to  say,  therefore,  once 
for  all,  that,  although  something  like  two  hundred  of  these 
pages  are  in  our  own  language,  we  deserve  but  little  credit 
for  originality,  and  would  prefer  to  be  regarded  as  an  unpre- 
tending compiler,  rather  than  as  an  aspirant  to  the  title  of 
author.  J.  C. 


NOTE  TO  THE  REVISED  EDITION. 

The  fact  that  eight  thousand  copies  of  this  work  have  been  pub- 
lished in  less  than  a year  after  its  appearance,  indicates  a degree  of 
popularity  which  was  not  anticipated.  In  this  edition  we  have  thrown 
out  a few  pages  of  the  old  matter,  and  substituted,  in  most  instances, 
fresher  anecdotes  ; and  this  revision,  with  the  illustrations  which  the 
liberal-minded  publishers  have  added,  will*  it  is  hoped,  render  the 
work  still  more  acceptable.  J.  C 


CONTENTS 


K PAG  6 

Introduction 13 

Mother  of  Washington 25 

Wife  of  Washington 33 

Wife  of  J ohn  Adams 39 

Ann  H.  Judson 52 

A Christian  Woman  in  the  Hour  of  Danger 66 

Humanity  of  Hartford  Ladies 69 

Mother  Bailey 73 

Elizabeth  Heard 76 

Ladies  of  Philadelphia  in  1780 78 

Wife  of  President  Reed - 80 

Completion  of  Bunker  Hill  Monument 85 

Lydia  Darrah 89 

Widow  Storey 93 

Mrs.  Hendee 95 

Patriotic  Women  of  Old  Middlesex 97 

The  Cacique’s  Noble  Daughter 99 

Humane  Spirit  of  a Forest  Maid 104 

Hannah  Dustin 10d 

The  Heroines  of  Bryant’s  Station 11] 

Mrs.  Daviess 114 

A.  Kentucky  Amazon lig 

Heroism  at  Innis  Settlement 120 

Bold  Exploit  at  Tampico 124 

Dicey  Langston 125 

Rebecca  Motte 129 

Another  Sacrifice  for  Freedom 132 


Vl]j 


CONTENTS 


f A.GK 

A Patriotic  Donation 133 

The  Little  Black-eyed  Rebel 134 

The  Benevolent  Quakeress 136 

A Pioneer  in  Sunday  Schools. 140 

The  Women  of  Wyoming. 142 

Mary  Gould 143 

The  Mother  of  President  Polk 145 

Trials  of  a Patriot 146 

Intrepidity  of  Mrs.  Israel 164 

Incident  in  Missionary  Life. 166 

A Kind-hearted  Chippewa. 169 

Humanity  of  a Cherokee 170 

Self-sacrificing  Spirit  of  the  Missionary 171 

Daring  Exploit  of  Two  Rebels 176 

Elizabeth  Martin 178 

The  Mother’s  Effectual  Petition 180 

N ote worthy  I n tegrity . 182 

A Faithful  Mother 184 

Mrs.  Spaulding. 186 

Wife  of  Colonel  Thomas 188 

Exemplary  Piety 190 

Adventure  of  a Patriotic  Girl 192 

Mrs.  Caldwell  and  the  Tories 195 

Mother  of  Randolph 198 

Cornelia  Beekman 199 

Mother  of  West 202 

Heroic  Endurance 204 

Maternal  Heroism 211 

A Modern  Dorcas 213 

Sarah  Hoffman 218 

Heroism  of  Scoliarie  Women ' 221 

A Sterling  Patriot 223 

Heroic  Conduct  at  Monmouth 237 

Courage  of  a Country  Girl 239 

The  Ledyards  at  Fort  Griswold 241 

Seneca  Heroines 244 

Martha  Bratton 246 

A Poor  Woman’s  Offering 250 


CONTENTS.  ix 

PAGE. 

Mother  of  Jackson . 25] 

Heroine  of  Fort  Henry 253 

A Benevolent  Widow 256 

Anne  Fitzhugh 258 

Esther  Gaston 261 

Remarkable  Presence  of  Mind 263 

Wife  of  Governor  Griswold 265 

Bold  Exploit  of  a Young  Girl 266 

Susanna  Wright 268 

Patriotism  of  1770 270 

Mrs.  Spaulding. 272 

Mrs.  Dillard 275 

Phoebe  Phillips 277 

Example  of  a Poor  Widow 279 

Elizabeth  Estaugh 284 

Kate  Moore, 297 

Captivity  of  Mrs.  Rowlandson 299 

Mrs.  Bozarth 303 

Heroine  of  Steel  Creek. 305 

Benevolence  of  a Colored  Woman 308 

Rebecca  Edwards 309 

The  Beautiful  Rebel 311 

Harriet  B.  Stewart 313 

A Kind  and  Benevolent  Woman 316 

Noble  Example  of  Pioneers 320 

Mrs.  Slocumb 323 

Wife  of  Captain  Richardson 330 

Striking  Instance  of  Patience 331 

Susannah  Elliott 336 

Anna  Elliott 338 

Patriotic  Stratagem 340 

Influence  of  a Faithful  Teacher 341 

Wife  of  Thomas  Heyward 343 

Noble  Decision 345 

A Tennessee  Heroine 346 

Mrs.  M’Kay 352 

Heroic  Conduct  of  a Daughter 354 

Heroic  Decision 356 


CONTENTS 


% 

PAGE 

Daughter  of  Aaron  Burr 35$ 

Female  Intrepidity* 361 

Wife  of  Richard  Shubrick 362 

Retort  of  Mrs.  Ashe 365 

Wife  of  a Drunkard 366 

Mother  of  Dr.  Dwight 370 

Happy  Results  of  Maternal  Fidelity 373 

Mrs.  Scott 375 

Success  of  Boldness 373 

Mary  Knight . 380 

Wife  of  William  Gray 381 

Mrs.  Huntington 383 

Mrs.  Biddle 385 

Kindness  of  Convicts 387 

Margaret  Prior 388 

Noble  Acts  of  Kindness . 395 

Wife  of  Dr.  Ramsay 398 

Margaret  Schuyler 400 

Noble  Treatment  of  Enemies 402 

Humanity  Rewarded 403 

Margaret  Winthrop 404 

A Pioneer  Settler’s  Adventure 408 

Mrs.  McKenney 410 

The  Fisherman’s  Heroic  Wife 416 

Mrs.  James  K.  Polk 418 

Widow  Jenkins. 421 

Faithful  Little  Girl 423 

Hospitality  of  California  Women 424 

^arali  Lanrnan  Smith 425 

Brother  saved  by  his  Sister 429 

Mrs.  Borden 431 

Margaret  Corbin 432 

Mrs.  Charming 433 

Commendable  Courage 434 

Heroine  of  Shell’s  Bush 435 

Father  Taylor’s  Widowed  Friend 437 

Revolutionary  Mother 440 

Successful  Daring 443 


C O IN  1 E N TS 


XI 


PAGE. 

Worthy  Example  of  Forgiveness 444 

Crookshanks  saved  by  a Female 445 

Patriotic  Artist 446 

Mohawk  Women 448 

emale  in  the  Revolutionary  Army 450 

lizabetli  Brant 459 

rief  Anecdotes  • . 465 

iss  D.  L.  Fix - • 4 7 


INTRODUCTION 


The  advantages  cf  Biography  are  obvious  and  great 
To  the  weight  of  precept  it  adds  the  force  and  efficacy  of 
example.  It  presents  correct  and  beautiful  models,  and 
awakens  the  impulse  to  imitate  what  we  admire.  Other 
sciences  strengthen  the  intellect,  this  influences  and  amends 
the  heart.  Other  subjects  interest  the  imagination,  this 
modifies  conduct  and  character.  By  the  recorded  actions 
of  the  great  and  good,  we  regulate  our  own  course,  and 
steer,  star-guided,  over  life’s  trackless  ocean. 

In  remote  ages,  the  department  of-  Female  Biography 
was  almost  a void.  Here  and  there  on  the  pages  of  the 
Sacred  Volume,  a lineament,  or  a form,  is  sketched  with 
graphic  power,  either  as  a warning,  or  bright  with  the 
hues  of  heaven.  Yet  uninspired  history,  though  she  con- 
tinued to  utter  “ her  dark  sayings  upon  the  harp,”  was 
wont  to  relapse  into  silence  at  the  name  of  woman.  Clas- 
sic antiquity  scarcely  presents  aught  that  might  be  cited 
as  a sustained  example.  In  the  annals  of  ancient  Greece, 
the  wife  of  one  of  its  philosophers  has  obtained  a place, 
but  only  through  the  varied  trials,  by  which  she  contri- 
buted to  perfect  his  patience.  Rome  but  slightly  lifts  the 


XIV 


INTRODUCTION. 


household  veil  from  the  mother  of  the  Gracchi,  as  she  ex- 
ultingly  exhibits  her  heart’s  jewels.  Cleopatra,  with  her 
royal  barge,  casts  a dazzling  gleam  over  the  Cydnus,  but 
her  fame  is  like  the  poison  of  the  reptile  that  destroyed 
her.  Boadicea  rushes  for  a moment  in  her  rude  chariot 
over  the  battle  field,  but  the  fasces  and  the  chains  of 
Rome  close  the  scene. 

Modern  Paganism  disclosed  a still  deeper  abyss  of  de- 
gradation for  woman.  The  aboriginal  lord  of  the  American 
forests  lays  the  burden  on  the  shoulder  of  his  weaker  com- 
panion, and  stalks  on  in  unbowed  majesty,  with  his  quiver 
and  his  tomahawk.  Beneath  the  sultry  skies  of  Africa 
she  crouches  to  drink  the  poison  water  before  her  judges, 
having  no  better  test  of  her  innocence  than  the  deliverer, 
Death.  In  India,  we  see  her  plunging  into  the  Ganges 
her  female  infants,  that  they  may  escape  her  lot  of  misery, 
or  wrapped  in  the  flames  of  the  burning  pile,  turn  into 
ashes  with  the  corpse  of  her  husband.  Under  the  sway 
of  the  Moslem,  her  highest  condition  is  a life-long  incarce- 
ration, her  best  treatment,  that  of  a gilded  toy — a soulless 
slave.  Throughout  the  whole  heathen  world,  woman  may 
be  characterized,  as  Humanity,  in  Central  Asia  has  been, 
by  an  elegant  French  writer,  as  “ always  remaining  anony- 
mous,— indifferent  to  herself, — not  believing  in  her  liberty, 
having  none, — and  leaving  no  “trace  of  her  passage  upon 
earth.” 

Christianity  has  changed  the  scene.  Wherever  her  pure 
and  pitying  spirit  prevails,  the  sway  of  brute  force  is  soft- 
ened, and  the  weaker  vessel  ” upheld.  Bearing  in  her 
hand  the  blessed  Gospel,  “ a light  to  lighten  the  Gentiles, 
and  the  glory  of  the  people  Israel,”  she  adds  to  the  litera- 
ture of  the  world  a new  volume,  the  History  of  Woman 


INTRODUCTION. 


XV 


She  spreads  a page,  for  which  the  long,  slow  ages  had 
neither  looked,  nor  inquired, — neither  waited  for,  nor  ima- 
gined, the  page  of  female  biography. 

So  liberal  have  been  our  own  immediate  times  in  sup- 
plying fitting  materials,  that  an  extensive  and  valuable  li- 
brary might  readily  be  selected  in  this  department  alone. 
Since  knowledge  has  shed  her  baptism  upon  the  head  c/f 
woman,  her  legitimate  sphere  of  duty  has  become  exten- 
ded, and  enriched  by  incident.  We  see  her  not  only  brought 
forward  as  a teacher,  but  entering  unrebuked  the  fields  of 
science  and  literature  ; we  see  her  amid  the  hardships  of 
colonial  life,  displaying  a martyr’s  courage,  or  ascending  the 
deck  of  the  mission  ship  to  take  her  part  in  “ perils  among 
the  heathen.” 

The  venerable  moralist  of  Barley  Wood,  who  so  perse- 
veringly  encouraged  her  sex  to  reflect,  to  discriminate,  to 
choose  the  good  and  refuse  the  evil,  who,  after  attaining 
the  age  of  sixty  years,  presented  them  with  eleven  new  and 
instructive  volumes,  has  not  long  laid  down  her  pen,  for  the 
rest  and  reward  of  the  righteous.  That  high  souled.  apostle 
x)f  erring,  suffering  humanity,  to  whose  dauntless  benevo- 
lence crowned  heads  did  honor,  whose  melodious  voice  I 
almost  fancy  that  I again  hear,  as  in  the  plain  garb  of 
her  order,  she  stood  as  a tutelary  being  among  the  con- 
victs at  Newgate, — she  has  but  recently  arisen  to  that 
congenial  society  of  the  just  made  perfect,  who  rejoice  over 
“ one  sinner  that  repenteth.” 

And  the  harp  of  that  tuneful  one,  so  recently  exchanged 
for  a purer  harmony,  still  breathes  upon  our  hearts  the 
echoes  of  her  varied  lay,  as  when  touched  by  her  hand  it 
warbled — 


XV3 


INTRODUCTTQN. 


Fame  hath  a voice,  whose  thrilling  tone, 

Can  bid  the  life  pulse  beat, 

As  when  a trumpets  note  hath  blown. 

Warning  the  hosts  to  meet; 

But  all ! let  mine,  a woman’s  breast, 

With  words  of  home-born  love  be  bless’d.” 

She,  too,  who  sleeps  beneath  the  hopia-tree  in  Burmah, 
whose  courage  and  constancy  no  hero  has  transcended, 
how  rapidly  has  she  been  followed  in  the  same  self  deny- 
ing path,  by  others  who  “ counted  not  their  lives  dear 
unto  them,”  if  they  might  bear  to  the  perishing  heathen 
the  name  and  love  of  a Redeemer. 

And  one  still  lives,  the  wonderful  Scandinavian  maiden, 
whose  melody  now  holds  our  own  land  in  enchantment, 
and  who  exhibits,  on  a scale  hitherto  unknown  in  the 
world’s  history,  rare  endowments,  boundless  liberality,  and 
deep  humility  ; God’s  grace  held  in  subservience  to  the 
good  of  her  fellow  creatures.  Through  the  power  of  song, 
which,  as  the  compeer  of  the  nightingale,  she  possesses, 
and  with  a singular  freedom  from  vanity  and  selfishness, 
she  charms  and  elevates,  while  with  the  harvest  of  her 
toils  she  feeds  the  hungry,  clothes  the  naked,  comforts  the 
desolate,  -aids  the  hallowed  temple  to  uplift  its  spire,  and 
the  school  to  spread  its  brooding  wing  over  the  children 
of  future  generations. 

One  there  lives,  who  doth  inherit 
Angel  gifts  with  angel  spirit. 

Bidding  streams  of  gladness  flow 
Through  the  realms  of  want  and  woe, 

’Mid  lone  age  and  misery’s  lot. 

Kindling  pleasures  long  forgot, 

Seeking  minds  oppress’d  with  night, 

And  on  darkness  shedding  light ; 

She  the  seraph’s  speech  doth  know, 

She  hath  learn’d  their  deeds  below 


INTRODUCTION. 


xvii 


So,  when  o’er  this  misty  strand, 

She  shall  clasp  their  waiting  hand. 

They  will  fold  her  to  their  breast. 

More  a sister  than  a guest. 

If  all  true  greatness  should  be  estimated  by  its  tenden- 
cies, and  by  the  good  it  performs,  it  is  peculiarly  desirable 
that  woman’s  claims  to  distinction  should  be  thus  judged 
and  awarded.  In  this  young  western  world,  especially  in 
New  England,  her  agency  has  been  admitted,  and  her  ca- 
pacity tested,  of  mingling  a healthful  leaven  with  the  elements 
of  a nation’s  character.  Here,  her  presence  has  been  ac- 
knowledged, and  her  aid  faithfully  rendered,  from  the  be- 
ginning. There  is  a beautiful  tradition,  that  the  hist  foot 
which  pressed  the  snow  clad  rock  of  Plymouth  was  that  of 
Mary  Chilton,  a fair  young  maiden,  and  that  the  last  sur- 
vivor of  those  heroic  pioneers  was  Mary  Allerton,  who  lived 
to  see  the  planting  of  twelve  out  of  the  thirteen  colonies, 
which  formed  the  nucleus  of  these  United  States. 

In  the  May  Flower,  eighteen  wives  accompanied  their 
husbands  to  a waste  land  and  uninhabited,  save  by  the 
wily  and  vengeful  savage.  On  the  unfloored  hut,  she  who 
had  been  nurtured  amid  the  rich  carpets  and  curtains  of 
the  mother  land,  rocked  her  new  born  babe,  and  com- 
plained not  She,  who  in  the  home  of  her  youth  had  ar- 
ranged the  gorgeous  shades  of  embroidery,  or,  perchance, 
had  compounded  the  rich  venison  pasty  as  her  share  in  the 
housekeeping,  now  pounded  the  coarse  Indian  corn  for  her 
children’s  bread,  and  bade  them  ask  God’s  blessing,  ere 
they  took  their  scanty  portion.  When  the  snows  sifted 
through  their  miserable  roof-trees  upon  her  little  ones,  she 
gathered  them  closer  to  her  bosom  ; she  taught  them  the 
Bible,  and  the  catechism,  and  the  holy  hymn,  though  the 
war-whoop  of  the  Indian  rang  through  the  wild.  Amid 


xviii 


INTRODUCTION. 


the  untold  hardships  of  colonial  life,  she  infused  new  strength 
into  her  husband  by  her  firmness,  and  solaced  his  weary 
hours  by  her  love.  She  was  to  him, 

“An  undergoing  spirit,  to  bear  up 
Against  wliate’er  ensued.” 

During  the  struggle  of  our  Revolution,  the  privations  sus- 
tained, and  the  efforts  made  by  women,  were  neither  few 
nor  of  short  duration.  Many  of  them  are  delineated  in  the 
present  volume,  and  in  other  interesting  ones  of  the  same 
class,  which  have  found  favor  with  the  public. 

Yet  innumerable  instances  of  faithful  toil,  and  patient 
endurance,  must  have  been  covered  with  oblivion.  In  how 
many  a lone  home,  whence  the  father  was  long  sundered 
by  a soldier’s  destiny,  did  the  Mother  labor  to  perform  to 
their  little  ones  both  his  duties  and  her  own,  having  no 
witness  of  the  extent  of  her  heavy  burdens,  and  sleepless 
anxieties,  save  the  Hearer  of  Prayer. 

A good  and  hoary  headed  man,  who  had  passed  the 
limits  of  fourscore,  once  said  to  me,  “ my  father  was  in  the 
army  during  the  whole  eight  years  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  at  first  as  a common  soldier,  afterwards  as  an  officer. 
My  mother  had  the  sole  charge  of  us,  four  little  ones.  Our 
house  was  a poor  one,  and  far  from  neighbors.  I have 
a keen  remembrance  of  the  terrible  cold  of  some  of  these 
winters.  The  snow  lay  so  deep  and  long,  that  it  was  diffi- 
cult to  cut  or  draw  fuel  from  the  woods,  and  to  get  our 
corn  to  mill,  when  we  had  any.  My  mother  was  the  pos- 
sessor of  a coffee  mill.  In  that  she  ground,  wheat,  and 
made  coarse  bread,  which  we  ate,  and  were  thankful.  It 
•was  not  always  that  we  could  be  allowed  as  much,  even 
of  this,  as  our  keen  appetites  craved.  Many  is  the  time 
that  we  have  gone  to  bed,  with  only  a drink  of  water  for 


INTRODUCTION.  XIX 

our  supper,  in  which  a little  molasses  had  &een  mingled. 
We  patiently  received  it,  for  we  knew  our  mother  did  as 
well  for  us  as  she  could,  and  hoped  to  have  something 
better  in  the  morning.  She  was  never  heard  to  repine; 
and  young  as  we  were,  we  tried  to  make  her  loving  spirit 
and  heavenly  trust,  our  example. 

“ When  my  father  was  permitted  to  come  home,  his  stay 
was  short,  and  he  had  not  much  to  leave  us,  for  the  pay 
of  those  who  achieved  our  liberties  was  slight,  and  iriegu- 
larly  rendered.  Yet  when  he  went,  my  mother  ever  bade 
him  farewell  with  a cheerful  face,  and  not  to  be  anxious 
about  his  children,  for  she  would  watch  over  them  night  - 
and  day,  and  God  would  take  care  of  the  families  of 
those  who  went  forth  to  defend  the  righteous  cause  of 
their  country.  Sometimes  we  wrondered  that  she  did  not 
mention  the  cold  weather,  or  our  short  meals,  or  her  hard 
work,  that  we  little  ones  might  be  clothed,  and  fed,  and 
taught  But  she  would  not  weaken  his  hands,  or  sadden 
his  heart,  for  she  said  a soldier’s  lot  was  harder  than  all. 
We  saw  that  she  never  complained,  but  always  kept  in  hei 
heart  a sweet  hope,  like  a well  of  living  water.  Every 
night  ere  we  slept,  and  every  morning  when  we  arose,  we 
lifted  our  little  hands  for  God’s  blessing  on  our  absent  fa- 
ther, and  our  endangered  country.” 

How  dpeply  the  prayers  from  such  solitary  homes,  and 
faithful  hearts,  were  mingled  with  the  infant  liberties  of 
our  dear  native  land,  we  may  not  know  until  we  enter 
where  we  see  no  more  “ through  a glass  darkly,  but  face 
to  face.” 

Incidents  repeatedly  occurred  during  this  contest  of  eight 
years,  between  the  feeble  colonies  and  the  strong  mother 


XX 


INTRODUCTION. 


land,  of  a courage  that  ancient  Sparta  would  have  ap- 
plauded. 

In  a thinly  settled  part  of  Virginia,  the  quiet  of  the  Sab- 
bath eve  was  once  broken  by  the  loud,  hurried  roll  of  the 
drum.  Volunteers  were  invoked  to  go  forth  and  prevent 
the  British  troops,  under  the  pitiless  Tarleton,  from  forcing 
their  way  through  an  important  mountain  pass.  In  an  old 
fort  resided  a family,  all  of  whose  elder  sons  were  absent 
with  our  army,  which  at  the  North  opposed  the  foe.  The 
father  lay  enfeebled  and  sick.  Around  his  bedside  the 
Mother  called  their  three  sons,  of  the  ages  of  thirteen,  fif- 
teen, and  seventeen. 

“ Go  forth,  children,”  said  she,  “ to  the  defence  of  your 
native  clime.  Go,  each  and  all  of  you.  I spare  not  my 

youngest,  my  fair-haired  boy,  the  light  of  my  declining 
years. 

“ Go  forth,  my  sons.  Repel  the  foot  of  the  invader,  or 
see  my  face  no  more.” 

It  has  been  recorded  in  the  annals  of  other  climes,  as 
well  as  our  own,  that  Woman,  under  the  pressure  of  un- 
usual circumstances,  has  revealed  unwonted  and  unexpected 
energies.  It  is  fitting  that  she  should  prove  herself  equal 
to  every  emergency,  nor  shrink  from  any  duty  that  dangers 
or  reverses  may  impose. 

Still,  her  best  happiness  and  true  glory  are  doubtless 
found  in  her  own  peculiar  sphere.  Rescued,  as  she  has 
been,  from  long  darkness,  by  the  precepts  of  the  religion  of 
Jesus,  brought  forth  into  the  broad  sunlight  of  knowledge 
and  responsibility,  she  is  naturally  anxious  to  know  how  to 
discharge  her  debt  to  the  age,  and  to  her  own  land.  Her 
patriotism  is,  to  labor  in  the  sanctuary  of  home,  and  in  every 


INTRODUCTION. 


xxi 


allotted  department  of  education,  to  form  and  train  a race 
that  shall  bless  their  country,  and  serve  their  God. 

There  has  been  sometimes  claimed  for  her,  under  the 
name  of  “rights”  a wider  participation  in  the  pursuits,  ex- 
posures, and  honors  appertaining  to  men.  Were  these  some- 
what indefinite  claims  conceded,  would  the  change  promote 
her  welfare?  Would  she  be  a gainer  by  any  added  power 
or  sounding  title,  which  should  require  the  sacrifice  of  that 
delicacy  which  is  the  life-blood  of  her  sex? 

Would  it  be  better  for  man  to  have  no  exercise  for  those 
energies,  which  the  state  of  a gentle,  trustful  being  calls 
forth;  those  protecting  energies  which  reveal  his  peculiar 
strength,  and  liken  him  to  a god-like  nature?  Would  it 
add  either  to  her  attractions  or  his  happiness,  to  confront 
her  in  the  arena  of  political  strife,  or  enable  her  to  bear  her  part 
in  fierce  collision  with  the  bold  and  unprincipled?  Might 
it  not  endanger  or  obliterate  that  enthusiasm  of  love,  which 
she  so  much  prizes,  to  meet  the  tutelary  spirit  of  his  home 
delights,  on  the  steep  unsheltered  heights  of  ambition,  as  a 
competitor  or  a rival? 

Would  it  be  as  well  for  the  rising  generation,  who  are 
given  into  the  arms  of  Woman  for  their  earliest  guidance, 
that  the  ardor  of  her  nature  should  be  drawn  into  different 
and  contradictory  channels?  When  a traveler  in  those  lands 
where  she  goes  forth  to  manual  toil  in  the  fields,  I have 
mourned  to  see  her  neglected  little  ones,  deprived  of  mater- 
nal care,  unsoftened  by  the  blandishments  of  its  tender- 
ness, growing  up  like  animals,  groveling,  uninqr essible,  un- 
conscientious.  Whatever  detaches  her  thoughts  or  divides 
her  heart  from  home  duties  and  affections,  is  especially  a 
loss  to  the  young  plants  that  depend  on  her  nurture  and 
supervision. 


XXII 


INTRODUCTION. 


If,  therefore,  the  proposed  change  should  profit  neither 
man,  woman,  nor  the  rising  race,  how  can  it  benefit  the 
world  at  large?  Is  it  not  the  province  of  true  wisdom  to 
select  such  measures  as  promote  the  greatest  good  of  the 
greatest  number? 

A moralist  has  well  said,  that  “ in  contentions  for  power, 
both  the  philosophy  and  poetry  of  life  are  dropped  and  trod- 
den down.”  A still  heavier  loss  would  accrue  to  domestic 
happiness,  and  the  interests  of  well  balanced  society,  should 
the  innate  delicacy  and  prerogative  of  woman,  as  woman , 
be  sacrificed  or  transmuted. 

“ I have  given  her  as  a help-meet,”  said  the  Voice  that 
cannot  err,  when  it  spake  unto  Adam  “ in  the  cool  of  the 
day,”  amid  the  trees  of  Paradise.  Not  as  a slave,  a clog, 
a toy,  a wrestler,  a prize-fighter,  a ruler.  No.  A helper y 
such  as  was  meet  for  man  to  desire,  and  for  her  to  become. 

If  the  unerring  Creator  has  assigned  different  spheres 
of  action  to  the  sexes,  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  some  adap- 
tation exists  to  their  respective  sphere,  that  there  is  work 
enough  in  each  to  employ  them,  and  that  the  faithful  per- 
formance of  that  work  will  be  for  the  welfare  of  both.  If  He 
hath  constituted  one  as  the  priestess  of  the  “ inner  temple,” 
committing  to  her  charge  its  veiled  shrine  and  sacred  har- 
monies, why  should  she  covet  to  rage  amid  the  warfare  at 
its  gates,  or  to  ride  on  the  whirlwind  that  may  rock  its 
turrets?  Rushing,  uncalled,  to  the  strife,  or  the  tumult, 
or  the  conflict,  will  there  not  linger  in  her  heart  the  up- 
draiding  question,  “with  whom  didst  thou  leave  thy  few 
sheep  in  the  wilderness?”  Why  need  she  be  again  tempted 
by  pride,  or  curiosity,  or  glozing  words,  to  forfeit  her  own 
Eden? 

The  true  nobility  of  Woman  is  to  keep  her  owu  sphere. 


INTRODUCTION. 


xxm 


and  adorn  it,  not  as  the  comet,  daunting  and  perplexing 
other  systems,  but  like  the  star,  which  is  the  first  to  light 
the  day  and  the  last  to  leave  it.  If  she  win  not  the  laurel 
of  the  conqueror  and  the  blood-shedder,  her  noble  deeds  may 
leave  “ footprints  on  the  sands  of  time,”  and  her  good  works, 
‘‘  such  as  become  those  that  profess  godliness,”  find  record 
in  the  Book  of  Life. 

Sisters,  are  not  our  rights  sufficiently  comprehensive,  the 
sanctuary  of  home,  the  throne  of  the  heart,  the  moulding 
of  the  whole  mass  of  mind,  in  its  first  formation  ? Have 
we  not' power  enough  in  all  realms  of  sorrow  and  suffering, 
over  all  forms  of  want  and  ignorance,  amid  all  ministries 
of  love,  from  the  cradle-dream  to  the  sealing  of  the  se- 
pulchre ? 

Let  us  be  content  and  faithful,  aye,  more,  — grateful  and 
joyful,  — making  this  brief  life  a hymn  of  praise,  until  ad- 
mitted to  that  choir  which  knows  no  discord,  and  where 
melody  is  eternal. 

L.  HUNTLEY  SIGOURNEY, 


Hartford,  Conn.. 


THE  MOTHER  OF  WASHINGTON 


As  the  “ mother”  of  our  nation’s  “ chief,”  it  seems 
appropriate  that  Mary  Washington  should  stand  at 
the  head  of  American  females  whose  deeds  are  herein 
recorded.  Her  life  was  one  unbroken  series  of  praise- 
worthy actions  — a drama  of  many  scenes,  none  blood 
chilling,  none  tragic,  but  all  noble,  all  inspiring,  and 
many  even  magnanimous.  She  was  uniformly  so 
gentle,  so  amiable,  so  dignified,  that  it  is  difficult  to  fix 
the  eye  on  any  one  act  more  strikingly  grand  than  the 
rest.  Stretching  the  eye  along  a series  of  mountain 
peaks,  all,  seemingly,  of  the  same  height,  a solitary  - 


26 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


one  cannot  be  singled  out  and  caller!  more  sublime 
than  the  others. 

It  is  impossible  to  contemplate  any  one  trait  of  her 
character  without  admiration.  In  republican  simpli- 
city, as  her  life  will  show,  she  was  a model ; and  her 
piety  was  of  such  an  exalted  nature  that  the  daughters 
of  the  land  might  make  it  their  study.  Though  proud 
of  her  son,  as  we  may  suppose  she  must  have  been, 
she  was  sensible  enough  not  to  be  betrayed  into  weak- 
ness and  folly  on  that  account.  The  honors  that  clus- 
tered around  her  name  as  associated  with  his,  only 
humbled  her  and  made  her  apparently  more  devout. 
She  never  forgot  that  she  was  a Christian  mother,  and 
that  her  son,  herself,  and,  in  perilous  times  especially, 
her  country,  needed  her  prayers.  She  was  wholly 
destitute  of  aristocratic  feelings,  which  are  degrading 
to  human  beings ; and  never  believed  that  sounding 
titles  and  high  honors  could  confer  lasting  distinc- 
tions, without  moral  worth.  The  greatness  which 
Byron,  with  so  much  justness  and  beauty,  ascribes 
to  Washington,  was  one  portion  of  the  inestimable 
riches  which  the  son  inherited  from  the  mother : 

“ Where  may  the  weary  eye  repose, 

When  gazing  on  the  great, 

Where  neither  guilty  glory  glows. 

Nor  despicable  state  ? 

Yes,  one — the  first — the  last — the  best — 

The  Cincinnatus  of  the  West, 

Whom  envy  dared  not  hate — 

Bequeathed  the  name  of  Washington, 

To  make  men  blush  there  was  but  on&” 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


27 


Moulding,  as  she  did,  to  a large  extent,  the  cha- 
racter of  the  great  Hero,  Statesman  and  Sage  of  the 
Western  World  ; instilling  into  his  young  heart  the 
virtues  that  warmed  her  own,  and  fitting  him  to  be- 
come the  man  of  unbending  integrity  and  heroic 
courage,  and  the  father  of  a great  and  expanding  re- 
public, she  may  well  claim  the  veneration,  not  of  the 
lovers  of  freedom  merely,  but  of  all  who  can  appre- 
ciate moral  beauty  and  thereby  estimate  the  true 
wealth  of  woman’s  heart.  A few  data  and  incidents 
of  such  a person’s  life  should  be  treasured  in  every 
American  mind. 

The  maiden  name  of  Mrs.  Washington  was  Mary 
Bell.  She  was  born  in  the  Colony  of  Virginia,  which 
is  fertile  in  great  names,  towards  the  close  of  the  year 
1706.  She  became  the  second  wife  of  Mr.  Augustine 
Washington,  a planter  of  the  u Old  Dominion,”  on  the 
sixth  of  March,  1730.  He  was  at  that  time  a resident 
of  Westmoreland  county.  There,  two  years  after  this 
union,  George,  their  oldest  child,  was  born.  While 
the  u father  of  his  country”  was  an  infant,  the  pa- 
rents removed  to  Stafford  county,  on  the  Rappahannoc 
river,  opposite  Fredericksburg. 

Mrs.  Washington  had  five  more  children,  and  lost 
the  youngest  in  its  infancy.  Soon  after  this  affliction, 
she  was  visited,  in  1713,  with  a greater  — the  death  of 
her  husband.  Thus,  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven,  Mrs. 
Washington  became  a widow,  with  five  small  children. 
Fortunately,  her  husband  left  a valuable  property  for 
their  maintenance.  It  was  mostly  in  land,  and  each 
son  inherited  a plantation.  The  one  daughter  was  also 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


28 

suitably  provided  for.  “ It  was  thus,”  writes  Mr 
Sparks,  u that  Augustine  Washington,  although  sud- 
denly cut  off' in  the  vigor  of  manhood,  left  all  his  chil- 
dren in  a state  of  comparative  independence.  Confi- 
ding in  the  prudence  of  the  mother,  he  directed  that 
the  proceeds  of  all  the  property  of  her  children  should 
he  at  her  disposal,  till  they  should  respectively  come 
of  age.” 

The  same  writer  adds  that,  u this  weighty  charge  of 
five  young  children,  the  eldest  of  whom  was  eleven 
years  old,  the  superintendence  of  their  education,  and 
die  management  of  complicated  affairs,  demanded  no 
common  share  of  resolution,  resource  of  mind,  and 
strength  of  character.  In  these  important  duties  Mrs. 
W ashington  acquitted  herself  with  fidelity  to  her  trust, 
and  with  entire  success.  Her  good  sense,  assiduity, 
tenderness  and  vigilance,  overcame  every  obstacle  ; 
and,  as  the  richest  reward  of  a mother’s  solicitude  and 
toil,  she  had  the  happiness  of  seeing  all  her  children 
come  forward  with  a fair  promise  into  life,  filling  the 
sphere  allotted  to  them  in  a manner  equally  honorable 
to  themselves,  and  to  the  parent  who  had  been  the  only 
guide  of  their  principles,  conduct  and  habits.  She 
lived  to  witness  the  noble  career  of  her  eldest  son,  till, 
by  his  own  rare  merits,  he  was  raised  to  the  head  of 
a nation,  and  applauded  and  revered  by  the  whole 
world.” 

Two  years  after  the  death  of  his  father,  George 
Washington  obtained  a midshipman’s  warrant,  and 
had  not  his  mother  opposed  the  plan,  he  would  have 
entered  the  naval  service,  been  removed  from  her  in- 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


29 


fluence,  acted  a different  part  on  the  theatre  of  life, 
and  possibly  changed  the  subsequent  aspect  of  Ameri- 
can affairs. 

Just  before  Washington’s  departure  to  the  north,  to 
assume  the  command  of  the  American  army,  he  per- 
suaded his  mother  to  leave  her  country  residence,  and 
assisted  in  effecting  her  removal  to  Fredericksburg. 
There  she  took  up  a permanent  abode,  and  there  died 
of  a lingering  and  painful  disease,  a cancer  in  the 
breast,  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  August,  1789. 

A few  of  the  many  lovely  traits  of  Mrs.  Washing- 
ton’s character,  are  happily  exhibited  in  two  or  three 
incidents  in  her  long,  but  not  remarkably  eventful  life. 

She  who  looked  to  God  in  hours  of  darkness  for 
light,  in  her  country’s  peril,  for  Divine  succor,  was 
equally  as  ready  to  acknowledge  the  hand  and  to  see 
the  smiles  of  the  u God  of  battles”  in  the  victories  that 
crowned  our  arms ; hence,  when  she  was  informed  of 
the  surrender  of  Cornwallis,  her  heart  instantly  filled 
with  gratitude,  and  raising  her  hands,  with  reverence 
and  pious  fervor,  she  exclaimed : “ Thank  God  ! wai 
will  now  be  ended,  and  peace,  independence  and  hap- 
piness bless  our  country  !” 

When  she  received  the  news  of  her  son's  successful 
passage  of  the  Delaware  — December  7th,  1776 — -with 
much  self-possession  she  expressed  her  joy  that  the 
prospects  of  the  country  were  brightening  ; but  when 
she  came  to  those  portions  of  the  dispatches  which 
were  panegyrical  of  her  son,  she  modestly  and  coolly 
observed  to  the  bearers  of  the  good  tidings,  that 
u George  appeared  to  have  deserved  well  of  bis  coun- 


30 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


try  for  such  signal  services.  But,  my  good  sirs,”  she 
added,  44  here  is  too  much  flattery ! — Still,  George  will 
not  forget  the  lessons  I ha/ve  taught  him — he  will  not 
forget  himself,  though  he  is  the  subject  of  so  much 
praise.” 

In  like  manner,  when,  on  the  return  of  the  combined 
armies  from  Yorktown,  Washington  visited  her  at 
Fredericksburg,  she  inquired  after  his  health  and 
talked  long  and  with  much  warmth  of  feeling  of  the 
scenes  of  former  years,  of  early  and  mutual  friends,  of 
all,  in  short,  that  the  past  hallows  ; but  to  the  theme 
of  the  ransomed  millions  of  the  land,  the  theme  that 
for  three  quarters  of  a century  has,  in  all  lands, 
prompted  the  highest  flights  of  eloquence,  and  awa- 
kened the  noblest  strains  of  song,  to  the  deathless 
fame  of  her  son,  she  made  not  the  slightest  allusion. 

In  the  fall  of  1784,  just  before  returning  to  his  native 
land,  General  Lafayette  went  to  Fredericksburg,  44  to 
pay  his  parting  respects”  to  Mrs.  Washington.  44  Con- 
ducted by  one  of  her  grandsons,  he  approached  the 
house,  when  the  young  gentleman  observed : 4 There, 
sir,  is  my  grandmother  !5  Lafayette  beheld  — work 
ing  in  the  garden,  clad  in  domestic-made  clothes,  and 
her  gray  head  covered  with  a plain  straw  hat  — the 
mother  of  4 his  hero,  his  friend  and  a country’s  pre- 
server ! 5 The  lady  saluted  him  kindly,  observing : 
4 Ah,  Marquis  ! you  see  an  old  woman ; but  come,  I 
can  make  you  welcome  to  my  poor  dwelling  without 
the  parade  of  changing  my  dress.5  55  During  the  inter- 
view, Lafayette,  referring  to  her  son,  could  not  with- 
hold his  encomiums,  which  drew  from  the  mother  this 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


31 


beautifully  simple  remark : “ I am  not  surprised  at 
what  George  has  done,  for  he  was  always  a good 
boy.” 

The  remains  of  Mrs.  Washington  were  interred  at 
Fredericksburg.  On  the  seventh  of  May,  1833,  the 
corner-stone  of  a monument  to  her  memory  was  laid 
under  the  direction  of  a Committee  who  represented 
the  citizens  of  Virginia.  General  Jackson,  then  Pre- 
sident of  the  United  States,  very  appropriately  took 
the  leading  and  most  honorable  part  in  the  ceremony. 
With  the  following  extracts  from  the  closing  part  of 
his  chaste  and  elegant  Address,  our  humble  sketch 
may  fittingly  close : 

“In  tracing  the  few  recollections  which  can  be  ga- 
thered, of  her  principles  and  conduct,  it  is  impossible 
to  avoid  the  conviction,  that  these  were  closely  inter- 
woven with  the  destiny  of  her  son.  The  great  points 
of  his  character  are  before  the  world.  He  who  runs 
may  read  them  in  his  whole  career,  as  a citizen,  a sol- 
dier, a magistrate.  He  possessed  unerring  judgment, 
if  that  term  can  be  applied  to  human  nature ; great 
probity  of  purpose,  high  moral  principles,  perfect  self- 
possession,  untiring  application,  and  an  inquiring 
mind,  seeking  information  from  every  quarter,  and 
arriving  at  its  conclusions  with  a full  knowledge  of  the 
subject ; and  he  added  to  these  an  inflexibility  of  reso- 
lution, which  nothing  could  change  but  a conviction 
of  error.  Look  back  at  the  life  and  conduct  of  his 
mother,  and  at  her  domestic  government,  as  they 
have  this  day  been  delineated  by  the  Chairman  of 
the  Monumental  Committee,  and  as  they  were  known 


32 


NOPLE  DEEDS 


to  her  contemporaries,  and  have  been  described  by 
them,  and  they  will  be  found  admirably  adapted  to 
form  and  develop,  the  elements  of  such  a character 
The  power  of  greatness  was  there ; but  had  it  not  been 
guided  aud  directed  by  maternal  solicitude  and  judg- 
ment, its  possessor,  instead  of  presenting  to  the  world 
examples  of  virtue,  patriotism  and  wisdom,  which 
will  be  precious  in  all  succeeding  ages,  might  have 
added  to  the  number  of  those  master-spirits,  whose 
fame  rests  upon  the  faculties  they  have -abused,  and 

the  injuries  they  have  committed 

“ Fellow  citizens,  at  your  request,  and  in  your  name, 
I now  deposit  this  plate  in  the  spot  destined  for  it ; 
and  when  the  American  pilgrim  shall,  in  after  ages, 
come  up  to  this  high  and  holy  place,  and  lay  his  hand 
upon  this  sacred  column,  may  he  recall  the  virtues  of 
her  who  sleeps  beneath,  and  depart  with  his  affections 
purified,  and  his  piety  strengthened,  while  he  invokes 
blessings  upon  the  Mother  of  Washington.” 


THE  WIFE  OF  WASHINGTON. 


A woman’s  noblest  station  is  retreat : 

Her  fairest  virtues  fly  from  public  sight ; 

Domestic  worth  — that  shuns  too  strong  a light. 

Lord  Lyttleton. 

The  drying  up  a single  tear  has  more 
Of  honest  fame  than  shedding  seas  of  gore. 

Byron. 

Woman  may  possess  an  equal  share  of  the  elements 
of  greatness  with  man,  but  she  has  not  an  equal  oppor- 
tunity to  display  them  in  such  a manner  as  to  call  forth 
the  admiration  and  applause  of  the  world.  She  was 
not  made  to  pour  the  tide  of  eloquence  in  the  Senate 
chamber,  or  lead  on  to  victory  the  brave  and  heroic 
spirits  of  the  land.  Her  course  leads  mainly  through 
the  quiet  valley  of  domestic  retirement,  where  the 
stream  can  rarely  leap  from  dizzy  heights  with  a thun- 
dering plunge,  whose  echoes  shall  go  booming  on  to  fill 
the  ear  of  coming  generations : her  movements  and 
influence  are  more  like  those  of  springs,  which,  flowing 
noiselessly  and  unseen,  are  widely  scattered,  and  every 
where  diffuse  incalculable  blessings. 

The  wife  of  Washington  could  not  be  the  hero  of  a 
seven-years’  war,  or  the  chief  magistrate  of  a republic ; 
but,  as  the  companion  of  such  a- man,  she  could  shine, 


34 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


in  her  own  proper  sphere,  with  a lustre  as  mild,  as 
steady,  as  serene,  as  his.  And  thus  she  did.  Prompt 
to  obey  the  calls  of  duty,  when  the  voice  of  humanity 
beckoned  her  to  the  camp,  she  hastened  away,  at  the 
sacrifice  ul’  ease  and  comfort,  to  relieve  the  wants  of 
the  suffering  ; and  when  forced  to  leave  her  u paradise” 
at  Mount  Yernon,  to  preside,  as  the  matron  of  the  na- 
tion, at  the  President’s  house,  she  did  it  with  a dignity 
and  propriety  perhaps  never  equalled,  certainly  never 
excelled.  But  let  us  not  anticipate. 

Martha  Dandridge  was  born  in  New  Kent  county, 
Virginia,  in  May,  1732.  She  was  endowed  with  good 
sense,  a strong  mind,  sound  ideas  of  feminine  pro- 
prieties, and  correct  views  of  woman’s  practical  duties  : 
and  these  had  to  answer  measurably  as  a substitute  for 
the  discipline  of  female  seminaries,  which  were  rare  in 
the  “ Old  Dominion,”  and  in  the  Colonies  generally, 
in  her  younger  days.  The  advantages  to  be  derived 
from  domestic  instruction,  she  enjoyed,  and  those 
only.  They,  however,  were  cut  off  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, by  her  union  in  marriage  with  Colonel  Daniel  P. 
Custis,  a gentleman  of  many  excellent  parts.  They 
settled  on  his  plantation  in  her  native  county.  Beau- 
tiful, lovely  in  disposition,  and  fascinating  in  manners, 
the  young  wife  was  warmly  admired  by  her  neighbors 
and  all  with  whom  she  came  in  contact ; and  her  resi- 
dence, known  as  the  “ White  House”  was  the  centre 
of  strong  attractions,  and  the  scene  of  much  genuine 
or  — which  is  the  same  thing  — Virginian,  hospitality. 
Colonel  Custis  became  the  father  of  three  children,  and 
then  died.  Previous  to  this  solemn  event,  however. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


35 


the  White  House  had  been  veiled  in  weeds  for  the  loss 
of  his  oldest  child. 

With  two  small  children,  a son  and  daughter,  Mrs. 
Custis  early  found  herself  a widow,  with  the  disposi- 
tion and  management  of  all  pecuniary  interests  left  by 
her  confiding  husband,  at  her  control.  As  sole  execu- 
trix, it  is  said  that  she  “ managed  the  extensive 
landed  and  pecuniary  concerns  of  the  estate  with  sur- 
prising ability,  making  loans  on  mortgages,  of  nroney, 
and  through  her  stewards  and  agents,  conducting  the 
sales  or  exportation  of  the  crops  to  the  best  possible 
advantage.” 

But  from  the  cares  of  an  extensive  estate  she  was 
shortly  relieved.  On  the  sixth  of  January,  1759,  she 
gave  'her  hand,  with  upwards  of  a hundred  thousand 
dollars,  to  Colonel  George  Washington,  another  planter 
of  her  native  Colony.  At  the  same  time,  she  relin- 
quished into  his  hands  the  guardianship  of  her  chil- 
dren — the  son  six,  and  the  daughter  four  years  old  — 
together  with  the  care  of  their  property.  From  the 
White  House,  Mrs.  Washington  now  removed  to 
Mount  Vernon,  which  remained  her  home  till  her 
death,  and  became  the  final  resting  place  of  her 
remains. 

In  her  new  home,  as  in  the  White  House,  she  super- 
intended the  affairs  of  the  household,  exercising  con- 
tinual control  over  all  culinary  matters ; carefully 
educating  her  offspring,  and  aiming  to  rear  them  up 
for  usefulness.  These  duties  she  discharged  with  tLe 
utmost  assiduity  and  faithfulness,  in  spite  of  the  many 
social  obligations  which  a woman  in  her  position  must 


36 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


necessarily  encounter.*  Nor  did  the  demands  of 
courtesy  and  of  her  family  debar  her  from  habitual  and 
systematic  charities,  dispensed  in  her  neighborhood,  or 
from  those  most  important  of  all  daily  duties,  the  calls 
of  the  “ closet.55  In  the  language  of  Miss  Conlding, 
in  her  Memoir  : “ It  is  recorded  of  this  devout  Chris- 
tian, that  never  during  her  life,  whether  in  prosperity 
or  in  adversity,  did  she  omit  that  daily  self-communion 
and  self-examination,  and  those  private  devotional 
exercises,  which  would  best  prepare  her  for  the  self- 
control  and  self-denial  by  which  she  was,  for  more  than 
half  a century,  so  eminently  distinguished.  It  was  her 
habit  to  retire  to  her  own  apartment  every  morning 
after  breakfast,  there  to  devote  an  hour  to  solitary 
prayer  and  meditation.55  # 

In  1770,  she  lost  a child  of  many  prayers,  ot  onglit 
hopes,  and  of  much  promise,  her  blooming  daughter. 
She  looked  upon  this  affliction  as  a visitation  from 
Him  who  doeth  all  things  well,  and  bore  it  with 
becoming  resignation,  which  the  Christian  only  is  pre- 
pared to  do. 

During  the  Devolution,  Mrs.  Washington  was  ac 
customed  to  pass  the  winters  with  her  husband  at  the 
head  quarters  of  the  army  and  the  summers  at  Mount 
Vernon ; and  it  was  in  the  camp  that  she  shone  with 
the  lustre  of  the  true  woman.  “ She  was  at  Valley 


* We  have  the  authority  of  Mr.  Sparks  for  asserting  that  while  Wash- 
ington’s pursuits  were  those  of  a retired  planter,  he  seldom  passed  a day 
when  at  home  without  the  company  of  friends  or  strangers,  frequently 
persons  of  great  celebrity,  and  demanding  much  attention  from  the  lady 
of  the  house. 


UK  AMElilOAN  WOMEN. 


37 


Forge  in  that  dreadful  winter  of  1777-8,  her  presence 
and  submission  to  privation  strengthening  the  fortitude 
of  those  who  might  have  complained,  and  giving  hope 
and  confidence  to  the  desponding.  She  soothed  the 
distresses  of  many  sufferers,  seeking  out  the  poor  and 
afflicted  with  benevolent  kindness,  extending  relief 
wherever  it  was  in  her  power,  and  with  graceful  de- 
portment presiding  in  the  Chief’s  humble  dwelling.”* 

In  1781,  she  lost  her  last  surviving  child,  John 
Custis,  aged  twenty  seven.  Her  widowed  daughter- 
in-law  and  the  four  children,  she  took  to  her  own 
home,  and  thenceforward  they  were  the  objects  of  her 
untiring  solicitude. 

The  life  of  Mrs.  Washington,  after  her  husband 
took  the  Presidential  chair,  was  marked  by  no  striking 
incidents,  and  affords  scanty  material  of  the  nature 
marked  out  for  this  work.  During  the  eight  years 
that  he  was  Chief  Magistrate,  she  presided  in  his 
mansion  with  the  same  unaffected  ease,  equanimity 
and  dignified  simplicity  that  had  marked  her  pre- 
vious course  in  more  retired  circles.  Visitors  were 
received  on  all  days  except  the  Sabbath , and,  irre- 
spective of  rank,  shared  in  her  courtesies  and  hospi- 
talities. A portion  of  each  summer,  at  that  period, 
was  passed  in  the  quiet  and  seclusion  of  Mount 
Vernon,  she  rarely,  if  ever,  accompanying  her  hus- 
band on  his  tours  through  the  land.  She  expressed 
regret  when  he  was  chosen  President,  because  she 


* Mrs.  Washington,  in  writing  to  Mrs.  Warren,  says,  “ The  General  *s 
apartment  is  very  small;  he  lias  had  a log  cabin  built  to  dine  in,  which 
has  made  our  quarters  more  tolerable  than  at  first.” 


38 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


preferred  “ to  grow  old”  with  him  u in  solitude  and 
tranquillity hence  it  is  not  surprising  that  she  found 
a luxury  in  retiring  for  a season  from  the  scenes  of 
public  life,  and  in  attending  to  the  education  of  her 
grand-children  and  to  other  self-imposed  tasks  and 
important  duties,  in  the  performance  of  which  she 
could  bless  her  friends  and  honor  God. 

After  the  death  of  her  illustrious  companion,  which 
occurred  in  December,  1799,  she  remained  at  Mount 
Vernon;  where  she  spent  seventeen  months  mourn- 
ing her  loss  ; receiving  the  visits  of  the  great  from 
all  parts  of  our  land,  and  from  various  parts  of  the 
earth ; attending,  as  heretofore,  to  her  domestic  con- 
cerns; perfecting  in  the  Christian  graces,  and  ripen- 
ing for  the  joys  of  a holier  state  of  being.  On  the 
twenty-second  of  May,  1801,  she  who,  while  on  earth, 
could  be  placed  in  no  station  which  she  did  not 
dignify  and  honor,  was  welcomed  to  the  glories  of 
another  world. 


THE  WIFE  OF  JOHN  ADAMS. 


The  mother  in  her  office  holds  the  key 
Of  the  soul ; and  she  it  is  who  stamps  the  com 
Of  character,  and  makes  the  being  who  would  be  a savage, 
But  for  her  gentle  cares,  a Christian  man. 

Old  Play 


0 we  will  walk  this  world, 

Y oked  in  all  exercise  of  noble  aim. 


Tennyson, 


At  igail  Smith  was  a daughter  of  the  Rev.  William 
Smith,  a Congregational  minister  of  Weymouth,  Mas- 
sachusetts, where  she  was  born  on  the  eleventh  of 
November,  1744,  O.  S.  “It  was  fashionable  to  ridi- 
cule female  learning,”  in  her  day ; and  she  says  of 
herself  in  one  of  her  letters,  “ I was  never  sent  to  any 
school.”  She  adds,  “ I was  always  sick.  Female  edu- 
cation, in  the  best  families,  went  no  further  than  wri- 
ting and  arithmetic.”  But  notwithstanding  her  edu- 
cational disadvantages,  she  read  and  studied  in  private, 
and  kept  up  a brisk  correspondence  with  relatives,  and 
by  these  means  expanded  and  fed  her  mind,  and  culti 
vated  an  easy  and  graceful  style  of  writing. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  October,  1764,  Miss  Smith  be- 
came the  wife  of  J ohn  Adams,  a lawyer  of  Braintree.* 

*The  part  of  the  town  in  which  he  lived  was  afterwards  called  Quincy 
in  honor  of  Mrs.  Adams’s  maternal  grandfather. 


40 


NOBLE  DEEDS. 


Her  grandson,  Charles  Francis  Adams,  to  whose  Me- 
moir of  her  we  are  indebted  for  these  statistics,  says, 
that  “ the  ten  years  immediately  following,  present 
little  that  is  worth  recording.” 

Prior  to  1778,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adams  had  been  sepa- 
rated at  sundry  times,  in  all,  more  than  three  years, 
which  was  a severe  trial  to  her  fortitude.  The  strength 
of  her  conjugal  affection  may  be  gathered  from  an  ex- 
tract from  one  of  her  letters  : “ I very  well  remember,” 
she  writes,  “ when  the  eastern  circuits  of  the  courts, 
which  lasted  a month,  were  thought  an  age,  and  an 
absence  of  three  months,  intolerable  ; but  we  are  car- 
ried from  step  to  step,  and  from  one  degree  to  another, 
to  endure  that  which  at  first  we  think  impossible.” 
Thus  she  was  schooled  for  separation  from  her  hus- 
band, when,  in  1778,  he  went  to  France  as  a joint  com- 
missioner. While  he  was  absent  from  his  country 
on  that  occasion,  faithful  to  the  calls  of  duty,  she 
remained  at  home,  and  managed,  as  she  had  done 
before,  the  affairs  of  the  household  and  farm.  And 
there  let  the  reader  look  at  her  and  see  a picture  of 
a true  mother  of  the  Revolution.  u She  is  a farmer 
cultivating  the  land,  and  discussing  the  weather  and 
crops  ; a merchant  reporting  prices-current  and  the 
rates  of  exchange,  and  directing  the  making  up  of 
invoices;  a politician,  speculating  upon  the  proba- 
bilities of  peace  or  war ; and  a mother,  writing  the 
most  exalted  sentiments  to  her  son.” 

What  nobler  deed  could  the  mother,  thus  situated, 
do  with  her  son,  John  Quincy  Adams,  in  a foreign 
land,  than  to  write  to  him  in  a tone  like  that  of  the 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN 


41 


extracts  which  follow,  and  which  are  taken  from 
letters  dated  1778-80 : 

“ 5T  is  almost  four  months  since  you  left  your  native 
land,  and  embarked  upon  the  mighty  waters,  in  quest 
of  a foreign  country.  Although  I have  not  particularly 
written  to  you  since,  yet  you  may  be  assured  you  have 
constantly  been  upon  my  heart  and  mind. 

“ It  is  a very  difficult  task,  my  dear  son,  for  a ten- 
der parent  to  bring  her  mind  to  part  with  a child  of 
your  years  going  to  a distant  land  ; nor  could  I have 
acquiesced  in  such  a separation  under  any  other  care 
than  that  of  the  most  ‘excellent  parent  and  guardian 
who  accompanied  you.  You  have  arrived  at  years  ca- 
pable of  improving  under  the  advantages  you  will  be 
likely  to  have,  if  you  do  but  properly  attend  to  them. 
They  are  talents  put  into  your  hands,  of  which  an 
account  will  be  required  of  you  hereafter ; and  being 
possessed  of  one,  two,  or  four,  see  to  it  that  you 
double  your  numbers. 

“ The  most  amiable  and  most  useful  disposition  in 
a young  mind  is  diffidence  of  itself;  and  this  should 
lead  you  to  seek  advice  and  instruction  from  him,  who 
is  your  natural  guardian,  and  will  always  counsel  and 
direct  you  in  the  best  manner,  both  for  your  present 
and  future  happiness.  You  are  in  possession  of  a na- 
tural good  understanding,  and  of  spirits  unbroken  by 
adversity  and  untamed  with  care.  Improve  your  un- 
derstanding by  acquiring  useful  knowledge  and  virtue, 
such  as  will  render  you  an  ornament  to  society,  an 
honor  to  your  country,  and  a blessing  to  your  parents. 
Great  learning  and  superior  abilities,  should  you  ever 


42 


NOBLF  DEEDS 


possess  them,  will  be  of  little  value  and  small  estima- 
tion, unless  virtue,  honor,  truth,  and  integrity  are 
added  to  them.  Adhere  to  those  religious  sentiments 
and  principles  which  were  early  instilled  into  your 
mind,  and  remember  that  you  are  accountable  to  your 
Maker  for  all  your  words  and  actions. 

“ Let  me  enjoin  it  upon  you  to  attend  constantly 
and  steadfastly  to  the  precepts  and  instructions  of  your 
father,  as  you  value  the  happiness  of  your  mother  and 
your  own  welfare.  His  care  and  attention  to  you  ren- 
der many  things  unnecessary  for  me  to  write,  which  1 
might  otherwise  do ; but  the  inadvertency  and  heed- 
lessness of  youth  require  line  upon  line  and  precept 
upon  precept,  and,  when  enforced  by  the  joint  efforts 
of  both  parents,  will,  I hope,  have  a due  influence  up- 
on your  conduct ; for,  dear  as  you  are  to  me,  I would 
much  rather  you  should  have  found  your  grave  in  the 
ocean  you  have  crossed,  or  that  any  untimely  death 
crop  you  in  your  infant  years,  than  see  you  an  immo- 
ral, profligate,  or  graceless  child. 

u You  have  entered  early  in  life  upon  the  great 
theatre  of  the  world,  which  is  full  of  temptations  and 
vice  of  eyery  kind.  You  are  not  wholly  unacquainted 
with  history,  in  wdiich  you  have  read  of  crimes  which 
your  ^experienced  mind  could  scarcely  believe  creai 
ble.  You  have  been  taught  to  think  of  them  with 
horror,  and  to  view  vice  as 

* a monster  of  so  frightful  mien, 

That,  to  be  hated,  needs  but  to  be  seen.’ 

v Let  you  must  keep  a strict  guard  upon  yourself,  or 
odious  monster  will  soon  lose  its  terror  by  becom- 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


43 


ing  familiar  to  you.  The  modern  history  of  our  own 
times,  furnishes  as  black  a list  of  crimes,  as  can  be 
paralleled  in  ancient  times,  even  if  we  go  back  to 
Nero,  Caligula,  or  Csesar  Borgia.  Young  as  you  are, 
the  cruel  war  into  which  we  have  been  compelled  by 
the  haughty  tyrant  of  Britain  and  the  bloody  emissa- 
ries of  his  vengeance,  may  stamp  upon  your  mind  this 
certain  truth,  that  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  all 
countries,  communities,  and,  I may  add,  individuals, 
depend  upon  their  morals.  That  nation  to  which  we 
were  once  united,  as  it  has  departed  from  justice, 
eluded  and  subverted  the  wise  laws  which  formerly 
governed  it,  and  suffered  the  worst  of  crimes  to  go 
unpunished,  has  lost  its  valor,  wisdom  and  humanity, 
and,  from  being  the  dread  and  terror  of  Europe,  has 

sunk  into  derision  and  infamy 

“ Some  author,  that  I have  met  with,  compares  a 
judicious  traveler  to  a river,  that  increases  its  stream 
the  further  it  flows  from  its  source ; or  to  certain 
springs,  which,  running  through  rich  veins  of  minerals, 
improve  their  qualities  as  they  pass  along.  It  will  be 
expected  of  you,  my  son,  that,  as  you  are  favored  with 
superior  advantages  under  the  instructive  eye  of  a 
tender  parent,  your  improvement  should  bear  some 
proportion  to  your  advantages.  Nothing  is  wanting 
with  you  but  attention,  diligence,  and  steady  applica- 
tion. Nature  has  not  been  deficient. 

u These  are  times  in  which  a genius  would  wish  to 
live.  It  is  not  in  the  still  calm  of  life,  or  the  repose 
of  a pacific  station,  that  great  characters  are  formed. 
Would  Cicero  have  shone  so  distinguished  an  orator 


.NOBLE  DEEDS 


44 

if  lie  had  not  been  roused,  kindled,  and  inflamed  by 
the  tyranny  of  Catiline,  Verres,  and  Mark  Anthony  ? 
The  habits  of  a vigorous  mind  are  formed  in  contend- 
ing with  difficulties.  All  history  will  convince  you  of 
this,  and  that  wisdom  and  penetration  are  the  fruit  of 
experience,  not  the  lessons  of  retirement  and  leisure. 
Great  necessities  call  out  great  virtues.  When  a mind 
is  raised  and  animated  by  scenes  that  engage  the 
heart,  then  those  qualities,  which  would  otherwise  lie 
dormant,  wake  into  life  and  form  the  character  of  the 
hero  and  the  statesman.  War,  tyranny,  and  desola- 
tion are  the  scourges  of  the  Almighty,  and  ought  no 
doubt  to  be  deprecated.  Yet  it  is  your  lot,  my  son, 
to  be  an  eye  witness  of  these  calamities  in  your  own 
native  land,  and,  at  the  same  time,  to  owe  your 
existence  among  a people  who  have  made  a glorious 
defence  of  their  invaded  liberties,  and  who,  aided 
by  a generous  and  powerful  ally,  with  the  61essing 
of  Heaven,  will  transmit  this  inheritance  to  ages 
yet  unborn. 

“ Nor  ought  it  to  be  one  of  the  least  of  your  incite- 
ments towards  exerting  every  power  and  faculty  of 
your  mind,  that  you  have  a parent  who  has  taken  so 
large  and  active  a share  in  this  contest,  and  discharged 
the  trust  reposed  in  him  with  so  much  satisfaction  as 
to  be  honored  with  the  important  embassy  which  at 
present  calls  him  abroad. 

“The  strict  and  inviolable  regard  you  have  ever 
paid  to  truth,  gives  me  pleasing  hopes  that  you  will 
not  swerve  from  her  dictates,  but  add  justice,  forti- 
tude, and  every  manly  virtue  which  can  adorn  a good 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


45 


citizen,  do  lionor  to  your  country,  and  render  your 
parents  supremely  happy,  particularly  your  ever  affec- 
tionate mother. 

. . . 44  The  only  sure  and  permanent  foundation 

of  virtue  is  religion.  Let  this  important  truth  be 
engraven  upon  your  heart.  And  also,  that  the  foun- 
dation of  religion  is  the  belief  of  the  one  only  God, 
and  a just  sense  of  his  attributes,  as  a being  infi- 
nitely wise,  just,  and  good,  to  whom  you  owe  the 
highest  reverence,  gratitude,  and  adoration ; who 
superintends  and  governs  all  nature,  even  to  clothing 
the  lilies  of  the  field,  and  hearing  the  young  ravens 
when  they  cry  ; but  more  particularly  regards  man, 
whom  he  created  after  his  own  image,  and  breathed 
into  him  an  immortal  spirit,  capable  of  a happiness 
beyond  the  grave  ; for  the  attainment  of  which  he  is 
bound  to  the  performance  of  certain  duties,  which  all 
tend  to  the  happiness  and  welfare  of  society,  and  are 
comprised  in  one  short  sentence,  expressive  of  uni- 
versal benevolence,  4 Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as 
thyself.’ 

44  Justice,  humanity,  and  benevolence,  are  the  duties 
you  owe  to  society  in  general.  To  your  country  the 
same  duties  are  incumbent  upon  you,  with  the  addi- 
tional obligation  of  sacrificing  ease,  pleasure,  wealth, 
and  life  itself  for  its  defence  and  security.  To  your 
parents  you  owe  love,  reverence,  and  obedience  to  all 
just  and  equitable  commands.  To  yourself,  — here, 
indeed,  is  a wide  field  to  expatiate  upon.  To  become 
what  you  ought  to  be,  and  what  a fond  mother  wishes 
to  see  you,  attend  to  some  precepts  and  instructions 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


4:6 

from  tlie  pen  of  one,  who  can  have  no  motive  but  your 
welfare  and  happiness,  and  who  wishes  in  this  way  to 
supply  to  you  the  personal  watchfulness  and  care, 
which  a separation  from  you  deprived  you  of  at  a 
period  of  life,  when  habits  are  easiest  acquired  and 
fixed ; and  though  the  advice  may  not  be  new,  yet 
suffer  it  to  obtain  a place  in  your  memory,  for 
occasions  may  offer,  and  perhaps  some  concurring 
circumstances  unite,  to  give  it  weight  and  force. 

u Suffer  me  to  recommend  to  you  one  of  the  most 
useful  lessons  of  life,  the  knowledge  and  study  of  your- 
self. There  you  run  the  greatest  hazard  of  being  de- 
ceived. Self-love  and  partiality  cast  a mist  before  the 
eyes,  and  there  is  no  knowledge  so  hard  to  be  acquired, 
nor  of  more  benefit  when  once  thoroughly  understood. 
Ungoverned  passions  have  aptly  been  compared  to  the 
boisterous  ocean,  which  is  known  to  produce  the  most 
terrible  effects.  ‘ Passions  are  the  elements  of  life,5 
but  elements  which  are  subject  to  the  control  of  rea- 
son. Whoever  will  candidly  examine  themselves, 
will  find  some  degree  of  passion,  peevishness,  or 
obstinacy  in  their  natural  tempers.  You  will  seldom 
find  these  disagreeable  ingredients  all  united  in  one ; 
but  the  uncontrolled  indulgence  of  either  is  sufficient 
to  render  the  possessor  unhappy  in  himself,  and  disa- 
greeable to  all  who  are  so  unhappy  as  to  be  witnesses 
of  it,  or  suffer  from  its  effects. 

u You,  my  dear  son,  are  formed  with  a constitution 
feelingly  alive ; your  passions  are  strong  and  im- 
petuous ; and,  though  I have  sometimes  seen  them 
hurry  you  into  excesses,  yet  with  pleasure  I have 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


47 


observed  a frankness  and  generosity  accompany  your 
efforts  to  govern  and  subdue  them.  Few  persons  are 
so  subject  to  passion,  but  that  they  can  command  them- 
selves, when  they  have  a motive  sufficiently  strong ; 
and  those  who  are  most  apt  to  transgress  will  restrain 
themselves  through  respect  and  reverence  to  superiors, 
and  even,  where  they  wish  to  recommend  themselves, 
to  their  equals.  The  due  government  of  the  passions, 
has  been  considered  in  all  ages  as  a most  valuable 
acquisition.  TIence  an  inspired  writer  observes,  4 He 
that  is  slow  to  anger  is  better  than  the  mighty  ; and 
lie  tli at  ruleth  his  spirit,  than  he  that  taketh  a city.5 
This  passion,  cooperating  with  power,  and  unre- 
strained by  reason,  has  produced  the  subversion  of 
cities,  the  desolation  of  countries,  the  massacre  of 
nations,  and  filled  the  world  with  injustice  and 
oppression.  Behold  your  own  country,  your  native 
land,  suffering  from  the  effects  of  lawless  power  and 
malignant  passions,  and  learn  betimes,  from  your  own 
observation  and  experience,  to  govern  and  control 
yourself.  Having  once  obtained  this  self-government, 
you  will  find  a foundation  laid  for  happiness  to  your- 
self and  usefulness  to  mankind.  4 Virtue  alone  is 
happiness  below  ;5  and  consists  in  cultivating  and  im- 
proving every  good  inclination,  and  in  checking  and 
subduing  every  propensity  to  evil.  I have  been  par- 
ticular upon  the  passion  of  anger,  as  it  is  generally 
the  most  predominant  passion  at  your  age,  the  soon- 
est excited,  and  the  least  pains  are  taken  to  subdue  it; 

‘ wliat  composes  man,  can  man  destroy.’  ” 


48 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


With  such  a mother  to  counsel  him,  one  is  led  tc 
ask,  how  could  John  Quincy  Adams  help  becoming  a 
noble-minded  and  great  man?  Who  wonders  that, 
with  good  natural  endowments  and  his  excellent  privi- 
leges, coupled  with  maternal  training,  he  fitted  himself 
to  fill  the  highest  office  in  the  gift  of  a free  people  ? 

In  June,  1781,  Mrs.  Adams  sailed  for  London  to  join 
her  husband,  who  was  then  our  Minister  at  the  Court 
of  St.  James.  While  absent,  she  visited  France  and 
Netherlands  ; resided  for  a time  in  the  former  country  ; 
and  returned  with  her  knowledge  of  human  nature,  of 
men,  manners,  &c.,  enlarged  ; disgusted  with  the  splen  • 
dor  and  sophistications  of  royalty,  and  well  prepared  to 
appreciate  the  republican  simplicity  and  frankness 
of  which  she  was  herself  a model.  While  Mr. 
Adams  was  Vice-President  and  President,  she  never 
laid  aside  her  singleness  of  heart,  and  that  sincerity 
and  unaffected  dignity  which  had  won  for  her  many 
friends  before  her  elevation,  and  which,  in  spite  of  na- 
tional animosity,  conquered  the  prejudices  and  gained 
the  hearts  of  the  aristocracy  of  Great  Britain.  But  her 
crowning  virtue  was  her  Christian  humility,  which  is 
beautifully  exemplified  in  a letter  which  she  wrote  to 
Mr.  Adams,  on  the  8th  of  February,  1797,  “the  day 
on  wdiich  the  votes  for  President  were  counted,  and 
Mr.  Adams,  as  Vice-President,  was  required  by  law  to 
announce  himself  the  President  elect  for  the  ensuing 
term 

“ * The  sun  is  dressed  in  brightest  beams, 

To  give  thy  honors  to  the  day.’ 

“ And  may  it  prove  an  auspicious  prelude  to  each 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


49 


ensuing  season.  You  have  this  day  to  declare  your- 
self head  of  a nation.  ‘ And  now,  O Lord,  my 
God,  thou  hast  made  thy  servant  ruler  over  the 
people.  Give  unto  him  an  understanding  heart, 
that  he  may  know  how  to  go  out  and  come  in 
before  this  great  people ; that  he  may  discern  between 
good  and  bad.  For  who  is  able  to  judge  this  thy  so 
great  a people  V were  the  words  of  a royal  sovereign  ; 
and  not  less  applicable  to  him  who  is  invested  with 
the  chief  magistracy  of  a nation,  though  he  wear 
not  a crown,  nor  the  robes  of  royalty. 

“ My  thoughts  and  my  meditations  are  with  you, 
though  personally  absent ; and  my  petitions  to  Heaven 
are,  that  c the  things  which  make  for  peace  may  not 
be  hidden  from  your  eyes.’  My  feelings  are  not  those 
of  pride  or  ostentation,  upon  the  occasion.  They  are 
solemnized  by  a sense  of  the  obligations,  the  important 
trusts,  and  numerous  duties  connected  with  it.  That 
you  may  be  enabled  to  discharge  them  with  honor  to 
yourself,  with  justice  and  impartiality  to  your  country, 
and  with  satisfaction  to  this  great  people,  shall  be  the 
daily  prayer  of  your  “A.  A.” 

From  her  husband’s  retirement  from  the  Presi- 
dency, in  1801,  to  the  close  of  her  life,  in  1818,  Mrs. 
Adams  remained  constantly  at  Quincy.  Cheerful, 
contented,  and  happy,  she  devoted  her  last  years,  in 
that  rural  seclusion,  to  the  reciprocities  of  friendship 
and  love,  to  offices  of  kindness  and  charity,  and,  in 
short,  to  all  those  duties  which  tend  to  ripen  the 
Christian  for  an  exchange  of  worlds. 

But  it  would  be  doing  injustice  to  her  character 
4 


50 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


and  leaving  one  of  her  noblest  deeds  unrecorded,  to 
close  without  mentioning  the  influence  for  good 
which  she  exerted  over  Mr.  Adams,  and  her  part  in 
the  work  of  making  him  what  he  was.  That  he  was 
sensible  of  the  benignant  influence  of  wives,  may 
be  gathered  from  the  following  letter  which  was 
addressed  to  Mrs.  Adams  from  Philadelphia,  on  the 
eleventh  of  August,  1777 : 

“I  think  1 have  some  times  observed  to  you  in 
conversation,  that  upon  examining  the  biography  of 
illustrious  men,  you  will  generally  find  some  female 
about  them,  in  the  relation  of  mother,  or  wife,  or 
sister,  to  whose  instigation  a great  part  of  their  merit 
is  to  be  ascribed.  You  will  find  a curious  example 
of  this  in  the  case  of  Aspasia,  the  wife  of  Pericles 
She  was  a woman  of  the  greatest  beauty,  and  the 
first  genius.  She  taught  him,  it  is  said,  his  refined 
maxims  of  policy,  his  lofty  imperial  eloquence,  nay, 
even  composed  the  speeches  on  which  so  great  a 
share  of  his  reputation  was  founded. 

“I  wish  some  of  our  great  men  had  such  wives. 
By  the  account  in  your  last  letter,  it  seems  the 
women  in  Boston  begin  to  think  themselves  able  to 
serve  their  country.  What  a pity  it  is  that  our 
generals  in  the  northern  districts  had  not  Aspasias 
to  their  wives. 

u I believe  the  two  Howes  have  not  very  great 
women  to  their  wives.  If  they  had,  we  should  suffer 
more  from  their  exertions  than  we  do.  This  is  our 
good  fortune.  A smart  wife  would  have  put  Howe 
in  possession  of  Philadelphia  a long  time  ago.55 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


51 


While  Mr.  Adams  was  wishing  that  some  of  our 
great  men  had  such  wives  as  Aspasia,  he  had  such 
a wife,  was  himself  such  a man,  and  owed  half  his 
greatness  to  his  Aspasia.  The  exalted  patriotism  and 
the  cheerful  piety  infused  into  the  letters  she  addres- 
sed  to  him  during  the  long  night  of  political  uncer- 
tainty that  hung  over  these  Colonies,  strengthened 
his  courage,  fired  his  nobler  feelings,  nerved  his 
higher  purposes  and,  doubtless,  greatly  contributed 
to  make  him  the  right  hand  man  of  Washington. 

The  diligent  and  faithful  Andromaches,  the  gifted 
and  patriotic  Aspasias  of  the  Revolution,  did  their  por- 
tion of  the  great  work  silently  and  unseen.  Secretly 
they  urged  their  husbands  and  sons  to  the  battle- 
field, secretly  spoke  to  them  by  letter  in  the  camp  or 
convention,  and  secretly  prayed  for  wisdom  to  guide 
our  statesmen  and  victory  to  crown  our  arms.  Thus 
privately  acting,  how  little  of  their  labor  or  their 
worth  is  known.  How  few  of  their  names  are  trea 
sured  in  our  annals.  With  rare  exceptions,  like  the 
builders  of  the  pyramids,  their  initials  are  lost. 
Then,  while  we  have  the  name  and  the  noble  exam- 
ple of  Mrs.  Adams,  with  a few  of  her  patriotic 
compeers,  let  us  pledge  our  unswerving  devotion  to 
Freedom  over  the  unknown  names  of  the  wives  and 
mothers  who  secretly  assisted  in  nerving  the  arm 
that  broke  the  sceptre  of  British  dominion  on  these 
shores,  and  gave  the  eagle  of  Liberty  a safe  and 
abidii.g  home  on  our  mountain  tops. 


ANN  H.  JUDSON. 


G()d  has  a bright  example  made  of  thee. 

To  show  that  womankind  may  be 
Above  that  sex  which  her  superior  seems. 

Cowtky. 

About  the  commencement  of  the  present  century, 
a new  field  was  opened  for  the  display  of  Christian 
heroism.  The  despairing  wail  of  the  pagan  millions 
of  the  East,  had  reached  the  ears  of  a few  of  the 
most  devoted  people  of  God  on  these  Western  shores, 
and  the  question  arisen,  Who  shall  lead  the  way  to 
heathen  realms,  who  among  us  first  encounter  the 
perils  of  an  attempt  to  plant  the  standard  of  the 
Cross  beside  the  pagodas  of  Buddhism  ? He  who 
would  then  go  forth,  must  leave  his  native  land  with 
the  parting  benediction  of  but  few  friends  ; must 
be  accompanied  with  few  and  faint  prayers  ; must 
make  his  own  path  through  the  tiger-haunted  jun- 
gles, and  face  alone  the  untried  dangers  of  a dubious 
assault  on  the  strong-holds  of  pagan  superstition. 
But,  notwithstanding  the  discouragements  inwoven 
with  the  contemplation  of  the  undertaking,  and  the 
great  peril  that  must  attend  its  completion,  it  was 
magnanimous  and  sublime,  and  there  were  hearts  in 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


53 


the  land  philanthropic  enough  to  embark  in  it  and 
brave  enough  to  face  its  terrors  without  fainting. 

Among  the  foremost  Americans  who  offered  their 
services  in  this  work,  were  the  Rev.  Adoniram 
Judson  and  his  wife.  They  embarked  from  Salem, 
Massachusetts,  for  Calcutta,  with  Samuel  Newell  and 
lady,  on  the  nineteenth  of  February,  1812  : and  five 
days  afterwards  Messrs.  Hall  and  Nott,  with  their 
wives,  and  Mr.  Rice,  sailed  from  Philadelphia  for 
the  same  place.  The  names  of  these  pioneer  mis- 
sionaries are  sacred  to  the  memory  of  all  living 
Christians,  and,  being  embodied  in  the  history  of 
the  grandest  enterprise  of  the  age,  are  to  be  handed 
down  to  all  future  generations. 

While  all  the  female  portion  of  this  little  band, 
exhibited  many  excellent  traits  of  character,  and 
worked  well  while  their  day  lasted,  no  other  one 
endured  so  many  and  so  great  hardships  and  trials, 
encountered  such  fearful  perils,  and  had  such  an 
opportunity  to  test  the  strength  of  the  higher  virtues, 
as  Mrs.  Judson. 

Ann  Hasseltine  was  born  at  Bradford,  in  Essex 
county,  Massachusetts,  on  the  twenty-second  day  of 
December,  1789.  She  was  an  active  and  enthusiastic 
child ; of  a gay  disposition,  yet  thoughtful  at  times ; 
and  before  she  was  seventeen,  gave  religion  that 
attention  which  its  importance  demands. 

She  became  acquainted  with  Mr.  Judson  in  1810. 
He  was  then  a student  in  the  Andover  Theological 
Seminary,  preparing  for  the  work  of  foreign  missions. 
A mutual  and  strong  attachment  sprang  up,  and  thej 


54 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


were  married  in  February,  1812,  two  weeks  before 
their  embarkation  for  India. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Judson  first  halted  at  Serampore. 
There,  soon  after  their  arrival,  they  were  immersed 
by  an  English  missionary,  having  changed  their  views 
of  the  ordinance  of  baptism  on  the  long  voyage 
across  the  Atlantic  and  Indian  oceans.  From  that 
place  they  were  soon  driven  by  the  Directors  and 
Agents  of  the  British  East  India  Company,  who  were 
at  that  time  opposed  to  the  introduction  of  the  Chris- 
tian religion  into  those  parts.  They  sailed  from 
Madras  for  Rangoon,  on  the  twenty-second  of  June, 
1813,  and  settled  at  the  latter  place. 

From  the  commencement  of  missionary  toil,  Mrs. 
Jndson  had  many  inconveniencies  to  encounter,  but 
they  were  met  with  patience  and  served  to  strengthen 
that  energy  which,  it  will  be  seen,  was  afterwards  so 
much  needed  and  so  strikingly  displayed.  Four  or 
five  years  after  settling  at  Rangoon,  Mr.  Judson  went 
to  Chittagong,  in  a neighboring  province,  to  secure 
help,  some  Arracanese  converts  being  there,  who 
spoke  the  Burman  language.  He  expected  to  return 
within  three  months.  “At  the  expiration  of  this 
period,  however,  when  his  return  was  daily  expected, 
a vessel  from  Chittagong  arrived  at  Rangoon,  bring- 
ing the  distressing  intelligence  that  neither  he  nor 
the  vessel  in  which  he  had  embarked  had  been 
heard  of  at  that  port.  Similar  tidings  were  also 
contained  in  letters  which  Mrs.  Judson  received 
from  Bengal. 

“ While  the  missionaries  were  in  this  state  of  fear 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


55 


till  suspense,  an  incident  occurred  which  was  well 
calculated  to  increase  the  perplexity  and  dismay  in 
which  they  were  plunged.  Mr.  Hough,*  who  had 
continued  quietly  studying  the  language  at  the  mis- 
sion house,  was  suddenly  summoned  to  appear 
immediately  at  the  court  house,  and  it  was  rumored 
among  the  affrighted  domestics  and  neighbors  who 
followed  the  officers  that  came  for  Mr.  Hough,  that 
the  king  had  issued  a decree  for  the  banishment  of 
all  the  foreign  teachers.  It  was  late  in  the  afternoon 
when  he  made  his  appearance  before  the  despotic 
tribunal  that  was  charged  with  the  execution  of  the 
imperial  decree,  and  he  was  merely  required  to  give 
security  for  his  appearance  the  following  morning; 
when,  as  the  unfeeling  magistrates  declared,  cif  he 
did  not  tell  all  the  truth  relative  to  his  situation  in 

the  country,  they  would  write  with  his  heart’s  blood.5 

« 

Mr.  Hough  was  detained  from  day  to  day  on  the 
most  flimsy  pretences,  himself  unable  to  speak  the 
language,  and  with  no  one  near  him  who  would 
attempt  to  explain  his  situation  or  vindicate  his 
objects  and  his  conduct.  The  viceroy  whom  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Judson  had  known,  had  recently  been  recalled 
to  Ava,  and  he  who  now  held  the  reins  of  the 
government  was  a stranger,  and,  as  his  family  were 
not  with  him,  Mrs.  Judson,  according  to  the  etiquette 
of  the  court,  could  not  be  admitted  to  his  presence. 
The  order  which  had  led  to  the  arrest  was  found  to 
relate  to  some  Portuguese  priests  whom  the  king  had 

• Mr  Hough  was  a printer  in  the  employment  of  the  Baptist  Board 

Author. 


66 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


banished,  and  Mr.  Hough  was  at  first  summoned  to 
give  assurance  that  he  was  not  one  of  the  number, 
and  then  detained  by  the  officers  in  order  to  extort 
money  for  his  ransom.  He  was  at  length  released  by 
order  of  the  viceroy,  to  whom  Mrs.  Judson  boldly 
carried  the  cause  and  presented  a petition  which  she 
had  caused  her  teacher  to  draw  up  for  the  purpose. 

“The  anxiety  occasioned  by  this  arrest  and  its 
train  of  petty  annoyances,  and  still  more  by  the  pro- 
tracted and  mysterious  absence  of  Mr.  Judson,  was 
at  this  time  greatly  increased  by  rumors  which 
reached  Rangoon,  of  an  impending  war  between  the 
English  and  the  Burman  governments.  There  were 
but  few  English  vessels  lying  in  the  river,  and  the 
English  traders  who  were  in  the  country  were 
losing  their  business  and  preparing  to  hasten  away, 
at  any  new  indications  of  hostilities  that  should  be 
presented.  The  condition  of  the  missionaries  was- 
rendered  still  more  distressing  by  the  ravages  of 
the  cholera,  which  now,  for  the  first  time  made  its 
appearance  in  Burmah,  and  was  sending  its  terrors 
throughout  the  empire.  The  poor  people  of  Rangoon 
fell  in  hundreds  before  its  frightful  progress.  The 
dismal  death-drum  continually  gave  forth  its  warning 
sound  as  new  names  were  added  to  the  melancholy 
list  of  victims  to  the  desolating  malady.  In  these 
gloomy  circumstances,  they  saw  ship  after  ship  leave 
the  river,  bearing  away  all  the  foreigners  who  were 
in  the  province,  until  at  length  the  only  one  remain- 
ing was  on  the  eve  of  sailing.  Harassed  with  doubts 
concerning  the  uncertain  fate  of  Mr.  Judson,  and 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


57 


surrounded  with  perils,  they  saw  before  them  what 
appeared  the  last  opportunity  of  leaving  the  country, 
before  the  threatened  hostilities  should  begin,  and 
they  should  be  exposed  to  all  the  merciless  cruelties 
of  barbarian  warfare. 

“Mr.  and  Mi’s.  Hough  decided  to  go  on  board  and 
escape  to  Bengal,  while  escape  was  still  in  their 
power,  and  they  urged  Mrs.  Judson  to  accompany 
them.  She  at  length  reluctantly  yielded  to  their 
advice,  and  with  a heart  burdened  with  sorrows  she 
embarked  with  her  companions,  on  the  fifth  of  July, 
in  the  only  ship  that  remained  to  carry  them  from 
the  country.  The  ship,  however,  was  delayed  for 
several  days  in  the  river,  and  was  likely  to  be  sub- 
jected to  still  further  detention.  Mrs.  Judson,  who 
had  gone  on  board  rather  in  obedience  to  the  entrea- 
ties of  her  associates,  and  the  dictates  of  prudence, 
than  from  the  suggestions  of  that  truer  instinct 
which  often  serves  to  guide  the  noblest  natures  in 
great  emergencies,  now  decided  to  leave  the  ship 
and  return  alone  to  the  mission  house,  there  to  await 
either  the  return  of  her  husband,  or  the  confirmation 
of  her  worst  fears  respecting  his  fate.  It  was  a noble 
exhibiton  of  heroic  courage,  and  gave  assurance  of 
all  the  distinguished  qualities  which,  at  a later 
period  and  amid  dangers  still  more  appalling,  shone 
with  unfailing^  brightness  around  the  character  of 
this  remarkable  woman.  The  event  justified,  her 
determination  ; and,  within  a week  after  her  decision 
was  taken,  Mr.  Judson  arrived  at  Rangoon,  having 
been  driven  from  place  to  place  by  contrary  winds, 


58 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


and  having  entirely  failed  of  the  object  for  which  he 
undertook  the  voyage.55  * 

In  the  summer  of  1820,  Mrs.  Judson’s  health  had 
become  so  far  undermined  by  the  deleterious  influ- 
ences of  the  climate,  that  it  was  deemed  necessary 
that  she  should  go  to  Calcutta  for  medical  advice, 
better  physicians  being  located  there  than  in  Ran- 
goon.  She  was  so  feeble  that  her  husband  was 
obliged  to  accompany  her.  She  was  soon  removed 
to  Serampore,  where  were  eminently  skillful  phy- 
sicians and  a purer  atmosphere.  Her  health  so 
improved  in  six  months  that  she  returned  with 
her  husband  to  Rangoon.  The  malady  which  had 
afflicted  her  was  the  chronic  liver  complaint.  It 
was  not  entirely  removed  at  Serampore,  and  a few 
months  after  her  return,  it  began  to  distress  her 
more  than  ever.  It  was  now  thought  that  nothing 
but  a visit  to  her  native  land  could  save  her.  Ac- 
cordingly, on  the  twenty-first  of  August,  1821,  she 
started  for  Calcutta,  where,  after  some  delay,  she 
found  a ship  bound  to  England,  by  which  route  she 
returned,  reaching  New  York  on  the  twenty-fifth  of 
September,  1822. 

She  remained  in  this  country  nine  months.  Du 
ring  that  short  period,  aside  from  paying  a visit  to 
her  relations,  she  attended  the  Triennial  Convention 
at  Washington,  held  in  May,  1823 ; visited  the  larger 
cities  North  and  South ; attended  numerous  meetings 
of  female  associations;  and  prepared  a history  of 


GammelPs  History  of  American  Baptist  Missions. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


69 


the  Burman  mission  which  was  so  ably  written  that 
even  the  London  Quarterly  Review,  and,  if  we  mis- 
take not,  other  English  periodicals  of  high  critical 
character,  noticed  it  in  commendatory  terms. 

The  following  extracts  from  letters  written  to  Dr. 
Wayland  while  in  this  country,  show  the  interest 
she  took  in  the  affairs  of  Burmah  while  absent  from 
that  land  of  her  adoption.  Under  date  of  “ Balti- 
more, January  twenty-second,  1823,”  she  says,  “ I 
want  the  Baptists  throughout  the  United  States  to 
feel,  that  Burmah  must  be  converted  through  their 
instrumentality.  They  must  do  more  than  they 
have  ever  yet  done.  They  must  pray  more,  they 
must  give  more,  and  make  greater  efforts  to  prevent 
the  Missionary  flame  from  becoming  extinct.  Every 
Christian  in  the  United  States  should  feel  as  deeply 
impressed  with  the  importance  of  making  continual 
efforts  for  the  salvation  of  the  heathen,  as  though 
their  conversion  depended  solely  on  himself.  Every 
individual  Christian  should  feel  himself  guilty  if  he 
has  not  done  and  does  not  continue  to  do  all  in  his 
power  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel  and  the  enlight- 
ening of  the  heathen  world.  But  I need  not  write 
thus  to  you.  You  see,  you  feel  the  misery  of  the 
heathen  world.  Try  to  awaken  Christians  around 
you.  Preach  frequently  on  the  subject  of  Missions. 
I have  remarked  it  to  be  the  case,  when  a minister 
feels  much  engaged  for  the  heathen,  his  people  gen- 
eraly  partake  of  his  spirit.” 

Writing  from  Washington  in  the  following  March, 
she  says,  “ I long  to  be  in  Rangoon,  and  am  anxiously 


60 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


hoping  to  get  away  in  the  spring.  Do  make  inquiries 
relative  to  the  sailing  of  ships  from  Boston  and 
Salem.  I must  not  miss  one  good  opportunity.” 

With  her  health  much  improved  though  not  fully 
restored,  she  sailed  for  her  Burman  home  on  the 
twenty-second  of  June,  1823,  and  reached  Rangoon 
on  the  fifth  of  the  following  December.  She  found 
the  work  of  the  mission  prospering.  The  next  year, 
however,  a war  broke  out  between  the  Burman  go- 
vernment and  the  English  in  Bengal,  and,  not  only 
suspended  the  operations  of  the  missionaries,  but 
jeopardised  their  lives.  They  were  supposed  to  be 
spies  employed  by  the  English  government.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Judson,  with  Dr.  Price,  another  of  the  mission 
aries,  were  at  that  time  at  Ava,  where  the  imperial 
government  of  the  Burman  Empire  had  just  been 
removed. 

44  It  was  on  the  eighth  of  June,  1824,  that  a com 
pany  of  Burmans,  headed  by  an  officer,  and  attended 
by  a 4 spotted-faced  son  of  the  prison,5  came  to  the 
mission  house,  and,  in  the  presence  of  Mrs.  Judson 
seized  her  husband  and  Dr.  Price,  and  after  binding 
them  tight  with  cords,  drove  them  away  to  the  court 
house.  From  this  place  they  were  hurried,  by  order  of 
the  king,  without  examination,  to  a loathsome  dun 
geon,  known  as  4 the  death  prison,5  where  along  with 
the  other  foreigners  they  were  confined,  each  loaded 
with  three  pairs  of  fetters  and  fastened  to  a long  pole, 
so  as  to  be  incapable  of  moving.  Meanwhile,  Mrs. 
Judson  was  shut  up  in  her  house,  deprived  of  her  fur- 
niture and  of  most  of  her  articles  of  property,  and 
watched  for  several  days  by  an  unfeeling  guard,  to 


OF  AMERICAN  V >MEN. 


61 


whose  rapacious  extortions  and  brutal  annoyances 
she  was  constantly  exposed,  without  being  able  to 
make  any  exertion  for  the  liberation  of  the  prison- 
ers, or  the  mitigation  of  their  cruel  sentence.  She 
however,  at  length  succeeded  in  addressing  a petition 
to  the  governor  of  the  city,  who  had  the  prisoners  in 
charge.  By  a present  of  one  hundred  dollars  to  his 
subordinate  officer,  their  condition  was  somewhat 
.meliorated,  and  by  the  unwearied  perseverance  of 
Mrs.  Judson,  and  her  affecting  appeals  to  the  sympa- 
thies of  the  governor,  he  was  induced  to  grant  her 
occasional  permission  to  go  to  the  prison,  and  at 
length  to  build  for  herself  a bamboo  shed  in  the 
prison  yard,  where  she  took  up  her  abode,  in  order 
that  she  might  prepare  food  for  the  prisoners, 
and  otherwise  minister  to  their  necessities. 

(i  At  the  end  of  nine  months  they  were  suddenly 
removed  from  Ava  to  Amarapura,  and  thence  to 
a wretched  place  several  miles  beyond,  called 
Oung-pen-la,  where  it  was  arranged  that  they  should 
be  put  to  death  in  presence  of  the  pakah-woon,  as  a 
kind  of  sacrifice  in  honor  of  his  taking  command  of 
a new  army  of  fifty  thousand  men  about  to  march 
against  the  English.  This  sanguinary  chief  had 
been  raised  from  a low  condition  to  the  rank  of 
woongyee;  but  in  the  height  of  his  power,  just  as 
he  was  about  to  march  at  the  head  of  the  army 
he  had  mustered,  he  fell  into  disgrace,  was  charged 
with  treason,  and  executed,  at  an  hour’s  notice, 
with  the  unqualified  approbation  of  all  classes 
of  people  at  Ava.  His  timely  execution  saved  the 


62 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


missionaries  from  the  fate  which  hung  over  them, 
and  they  were  left  uncared  for  in  the  miserable 
cells  of  Oung-pen-la,  till  the  near  approach  of 
the  English  to  the  capitol  induced  the  king  to 
send  for  Mr.  Judson,  to  accompany  the  embassy 
that  was  about  to  start  for  the  English  camp,  for 
the  purpose  of  averting  the  destruction  that  now 
threatened  the  Golden  City. 

“ During  this  period  of  a year  and  a half  Mrs. 
Judson  followed  them  from  prison  to  prison,  beneath 
the  darkness  of  night  and  the  burning  sun  of  noon- 
day, bearing  in  her  arms  her  infant  daughter,  — the 
child  of  sorrow  and  misfortune,  who  was  born  after 
the  imprisonment  of  its  father,  — procuring  for  them 
food  which  Burman  policy  never  supplies  to  pri- 
soners, and  perpetually  interceding  for  them  with 
their  successive  keepers,  with  the  governor  of  the 
city,  with  the  kinsmen  of  the  monarch,  and  the 
members  of  the  royal  household.  More  than  once 
the  queen’s  brother  gave  orders  that  they  should  be 
privately  put  to  death ; but  such  was  the  influence 
which  Mrs.  Judson  possessed  over  the  mind  of  the 
governor,  that  he  evaded  the  order  each  time  it  was 
given,  and  assured  her  that  for  her  sake  he  would 
not  execute  her  husband,  even  though  he  was  obliged 
to  execute  all  the  others.  And  when ' at  last  they 
were  to  be  taken  from  his  jurisdiction  and  driven 
to  the  horid  prison-house  of  Oung-pen-la,  at  the 
command  of  the  pakah-woon,  the  old  man  humanely 
summoned  Mrs.  Judson  from  the  prison  where  he 
had  permitted  her  to  go  and  sit  with  her  husband, 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


63 


in  order  that  she  might  be  spared  the  pangs  of  a 
separation  which  he  had  not  the  power  to  prevent. 
Her  own  pen  has  traced,  in  lines  that  will  never  be 
forgotten  by  those  who  read  them,  the  affecting 
history  of  the  dismal  lays  and  nights  of  her 
husband’s  captivity.  We  follow  her  alike  with 
admiration  and  the  deepest  sympathy  as  she  takes 
her  solitary  way  from  Ava,  at  first  in  a boat  upon 
the  river,  and  then  in  a Burman  cart,  in  search  of 
the  unknown  place  to  which  the  prisoners  have 
been  carried.  At  length,  overcome  with  fatigue, 
with  exposure,  and  the  bitter  pangs  of  hope 
deferred,  we  see  her  in  a comfortless  cabin,  pros- 
trate with  disease  and  brought  to  the  very  gates 
of  death, — while  her  infant  is  carried  about  the 
village  by  its  father  in  the  hours  of  his  occasional 
liberation,  to  be  nourished  by  such  Burman  mothers 
as  might  have  compassion  on  its  helpless  necessities. 

“ Such  is  a single  scene  from  this  melancholy 
record  of  missionary  suffering.  History  has  not 
recorded  ; poetry  itself  has  seldom  portrayed,  a more 
affecting  exhibition  of  Christian  fortitude,  of  female 
heroism,  and  all  the  noble  and  generous  qualities 
which  constitute  the  dignity  and  glory  of  woman. 
In  the  midst  of  sickness  and  danger,  and  every 
calamity  which  can  crush  the  human  heart,  she 
presented  a character  equal  to  the  sternest  trial, 
and  an  address  and  fertility  of  resources  which 
gave  her  an  ascendency  over  the  minds  of  her 
most  cruel  enemies,  and  alone  saved  the  mission- 
aries and  their  fellow  captives  from  the  terrible 


64 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


doom  which  constantly  awaited  them.  Day  after 
day  and  amid  the  lonely  hours  of  night  was  she 
employed  in  conciliating  the  favor  of  their  keepers, 
and  in  devising  plans  for  their  release,  or  the  alle- 
viation of  their  captivity.  Sometimes,  she  confesses, 
her  thoughts  would  wander  for  a brief  interval  to 
America  and  the  beloved  friends  of  her  better  days ; 
4 but  for  nearly  a year  and  a half,  so  entirely 
engrossed  was  every  thought  with  present  scenes 
and  sufferings,  that  she  seldom  reflected  on  a single 
occurrence  of  her  former  life,  or  recollected  that 
she  had  a friend  in  existence  out  of  Ava. 5 ”* 

When  peace  was  declared  between  the  two  powers, 
by  the  terms  of  negotiation,  the  European  prisoners 
were  all  released ; and  thus  closed  the  long  and  brutal 
incarceration  of  the  missionaries.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jud- 
son  immediately  departed  for  Rangoon.  They  soon 
removed  to  Amherst,  a new  town  on  the  Salwen  or 
Martaban  river.  After  having  established  a mission 
there,  Mr.  Judson  had  occasion  to  visit  Ava.  He 
started  on  the  fifth  of  July,  1826,  leaving  his  wife 
and  infant  daughter  in  the  care  of  kind  friends. 
He  was  detained  at  the  Capital  longer  than  he  had 
anticipated ; and  before  he  returned  he  received  the 
painful  intelligence  that  his  wife  was  dead.  UA 
remittent  fever  had  settled  on  her  constitution, 
already  enfeebled  by  suffering  and  disease,  and  she 
died  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  October,  1826,  amid 
the  universal  sorrow,  alike  of  the  English  residents 


Gammell. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


65 


at  Amherst  and  of  the  native  Christians  who  had 
gathered  around  her  at  her  new  home.  Her  infant 
daughter  died  a few  weeks  afterwards,  and  side 
by  side  they  were  laid  to  rest,  under  a large  hopia 
tree  a few  rods  from  the  house  where  she  had 
resided.  Two  marble  stones,  procured  by  the  con- 
tributions of  several  female  friends  in  her  native 
land,  are  the  humble  memorial  that  marks  the 
spot  where  sleeps  one  whose  “ name  will  be  remem- 
bered in  the  churches  of  Burmah,  in  future  times, 
when  the  pagodas  of  Gaudama  shall  have  fallen ; 
when  the  spires  of  Christian  temples  shall  gleam 
along  the  waters  of  the  Irrawaddy  and  the  Salwen : 
and  when  the  ‘ Golden  City  ’ shall  have  lifted  up 
her  gates  to  let  the  King  of  Glory  in.” 


5 


A CHRISTIAN  WOMAN  IN  THE  HOUR 
OF  DANGER. 


0 rainbow  of  the  battle-storm ! 

Methinks  thou  ’rt  gleaming  on  my  sight ; 

1 see  thy  fair  and  fragile  form 
Amid  the  thick  cloud  of  the  fight 

Sara  J.  Clarke. 

One  grain  of  incense  with  devotion  offered, 

Is  beyond  all  perfumes  or  Sabajan  spices. 

Massinger. 

The  following  incident,  we  are  informed  by  Mrs. 
Ellet,  was  communicated  to  a minister — Rev.  J.  EL 
Saye  — by  two  officers  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
One  of  them  was  in  the  skirmish  referred  to;  the 
other  lived  near  the  scene  of  action ; hence,  it  may 
be  relied  on  as  authentic.  The  name  of  the  hero- 
ine is  unknown,  which  is  greatly  to  be  regretted : 

“ Early  in  the  war,  the  inhabitants  on  the  frontier 
of  Burke  county,  North  Carolina,  being  apprehen- 
sive of  an  attack  by  the  Indians,  it  was  determined 
to  seek  protection  in  a fort  in  a more  densely  popu- 
lated neighborhood  in  an  interior  settlement.  A 
party  of  soldiers  was  sent  to  protect  them  on  their 
retreat.  The  families  assembled,  the  line  of  march 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


67 


was  taken  towards  their  place  of  destination,  and 
they  proceeded  some  miles  unmolested — the  soldiers 
marching  in  a hollow  square,  with  the  refugee  fami- 
lies. in  the  centre.  The  Indians  who  had  watched 
these  movements,  had  laid  a plan  for  their  destruc- 
tion. The  road  to  be  traveled  lay  through  a dense 
forest  in  the  fork  of  a river,  where  the  Indians 
concealed  themselves,  and  waited  till  the  travelers 
were  in  the  desired  spot.  Suddenly  the  war-whoop 
sounded  in  front,  and  on  either  side;  a large  body 
of  painted  warriors  rushed  in,  filling  the  gap  by 
which  the  whites  had  entered,  and  an  appalling 
crash  of  fire-arms  followed.  The  soldiers,  however, 
were  prepared ; such  as  chanced  to  be  near  the  trees 
darted  behind  them,  and  began  to  ply  the  deadly 
rifle ; the  others  prostrated  themselves  upon  the 
earth,  among  the  tall  grass,  and  crawled  to  trees. 
The  families  screened  themselves  as  best  they  could. 
The  onset  was  long  and  fiercely  urged ; ever  and 
anon  amid  the  din  and  smoke,  the  warriors  would 
rush,  tomahawk  in  hand,  towards  the  centre;  but 
they  were  repulsed  by  the  cool  intrepidity  of  the 
back-woods  riflemen.  Still  they  fought  on,  deter- 
mined on  the  destruction  of  the  victims  who  offered 
such  desperate  resistance.  All  at  once  an  appalling 
sound  greeted  the  ears  of  the  women  and  children 
in  the  centre ; it  was  a cry  from  their  defenders  — a 
cry  for  powder ! 4 Our  powder  is  giving  out,5  they 

exclaimed.  4 Have  you  any?  Bring  us  some,  or  we 
can  fight  no  longer!5  A woman  of  the  party  had  a 
good  supply.  She  spread  her  apron  on  the  ground, 


68 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


poured  her  powder  into  it,  and  going  round,  from 
soldier  to  soldier,  as  they  stood  behind  the  trees, 
bade  each  who  needed  powder  put  down  his  hat, 
and  poured  a quantity  upon  it.  Thus  she  went 
round  the  line  of  defence,  till  her  whole  stock,  and 
all  she  could  obtain  from  others,  was  distributed. 
At  last  the  savages  gave  way,  and,  pressed  by  their 
foes,  were  driven  off  the  ground.  The  victorious 
whites  returned  to  those  for  whose  safety  they  had 
ventured  into  the  wilderness.  Inquiries  were  made 
as  to  who  had  been  killed,  and  one  running  up, 
cried,  4 Where  is  the  woman  that  gave  us  the  pow- 
der? I want  to  see  her!’  4 Yes! — yes!  — let  us  see 
her!’  responded  another  and  another;  4 without  her 
we  should  have  been  all  lost!’  The  soldiers  ran 
about  among  the  women  and  children,  looking  for 
her  and  making  inquiries.  Directly  came  in  others 
from  the  pursuit,  one  of  whom  observing  the  com- 
motion, asked  the  cause,  and  was  told.  4 You  are 
looking  in  the  wrong  place,’  he  replied.  4 Is  she 
killed?  Ah,  we  were  afraid  of  that!’  exclaimed 
many  voices.  4 Not  when  I saw  her,’  answered  the 
soldier.  4 When  the  Indians  ran  off,  she  was  on  her 
hnees  in  prayer  at  the  root  of  yonder  tree,  and  there 
I left  her.’  There  was  a simultaneous  rush  to  the 
tree — and  there,  to  their  great  joy,  they  found  the 
woman  safe,  and  still  on  her  knees  in  prayer. 
Thinking  not  of  herself,  she  received  their  applause 
without  manifesting  any  other  feeling  than  gratitude 
to  Heaven  for  their  great  deliverance.” 


HUMANITY  OF  HARTFORD  LADIES. 


As  the  rivers  farthest  flowing, 

In  the  highest  hills  have  birth ; 

As  the  banyan  broadest  growing, 

Oftenest  bows  its  head  to  earth, 

So  the  noblest  minds  press  onward, 

Channels  far  of  good  to  trace  ,* 

So  the  largest  hearts  bend  downward, 

Circling  all  the  human  race. 

Mrs.  Hale. 


Tlie  sympathies  of  a free  people  are  always 
aroused  when  a nation  is  struggling  for  freedom. 
Hence  the  war  between  the  Turks  and  Greeks  not 
only  called  forth  the  eloquence  of  American  orators, 
but  the  mothers  and  daughters  of  the  land,  re- 
minded of  the  long  struggle  of  their  husbands  and 
fathers  for  liberty,  were  alive  to  the  interests,  and 
prayed  much  for  the  ransom  of  the  latter  people. 
Nor  was  this  all ; the  sufferings  to  which  the  war 
reduced  the  Greeks,  so  much  moved  the  hearts  of 
females  that,  in  one  instance  at  least,  they  made 
a demonstration  of  their  sympathy  worthy  of  record. 
The  ladies  of  Hartford,  Connecticut,  sent* out  a ship 
to  the  women  of  Greece,  containing  money,  and 
articles  of  wearing  apparel,  wrought  by  themselves 


70 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


expressly  for  an  offering  to  suffering  humanity 
Mrs.  Sigourney,  the  Secretary  of  the  Ladies5  Com 
mittee,  wrote  the  following  letter  to  accompany  the 
contribution : 

United  States  of  America , March  12th,  1828. 
The  Ladies  of  Ilmtford,  in  Connecticut , to  the 
Ladies  of  Greece. 

“ Sisters  and  Friends, — From  the  years  of  child- 
hood your  native  clime  has  been  the  theme  of  our 
admiration : together  with  our  brothers  and  our 
husbands,  we  early  learned  to  love  the  country  of 
Homer,  of  Aristides,  of  Solon,  and  of  Socrates. 
That  enthusiasm  which  the  glory  of  ancient  Greece 
enkindled  in  our  bosoms,  has  preserved  a fervent 
friendship  for  her  descendants : we  have  beheld  with 
deep  sympathy  the  horrors  of  Turkish  domination, 
and  the  struggles  so  long  and  nobly  sustained  by 
them  for  existence  and  for  liberty. 

“The  communications  of  Dr.  Ilowe,  since  his 
return  from  your  land,  have  made  us  more  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  your  personal  sufferings. 
He  has  presented  many  of  you  to  us  in  his  vivid 
descriptions,  as  seeking  refuge  in  caves,  and,  under 
the  branches  of  olive  trees,  listening  for  the  foot- 
steps of  the  destroyer,  and  mourning  over  your 
dearest  ones  slain  in  battle. 

“ Sisters  and  friends,  our  hearts  bleed  for  you. 
Deprived  of  your  protectors  by  the  fortune  of  war, 
and  continually  in  fear  of  evils  worse  than  death, 
our  prayers  are  with  you,  in  all  your  wanderings, 
your  wants  and  your  griefs.  In  this  vessel  (which 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


71 


may  God  send  in  safety  to  yonr  shores!)  you  will 
receive  a portion  of  that  bounty  wherewith  He 
hath  blessed  us.  The  poor  among  us  have  given 
according  to  their  ability,  and  our  little  children 
have  cheerfully  aided,  that  some  of  you  and  your 
children  might  have  bread  to  eat  and  raiment  to 
put  on.  Could  you  but  behold  the  faces  of  our 
little  ones  brighten,  and  their  eyes  sparkle  with 
joy,  while  they  give  up  their  holidays,  that  they 
might  work  with  their  needles  for  Greece ; could 
you  see  those  females  who  earn  a subsistence  by 
labor,  gladly  casting  their  mite  into  our  treasury, 
and  taking  hours  from  their  repose  that  an  addi- 
tional garment  might  be  furnished  for  you;  could 
you  witness  the  active  spirit  that  pervades  all  classes 
of  our  community,  it  would  cheer  for  a moment 
the  darkness  and  misery  of  your  lot. 

“We  are  the  inhabitants  of  a part  of  one  of  the 
smallest  of  the  United  States,  and  our  donations 
must  therefore,  of  necessity,  be  more  limited  than 
those  from  the  larger  and  more  wealthy  cities ; yet 
such  as  we  have,  we  give  in  the  name  of  our  dear 
Saviour,  with  our  blessings  and  our  prayers. 

“We  know  the  value  of  sympathy — how  it  arms 
the  heart  to  endure — how  it  plucks  the  sting  from 
sorrow — therefore  we  have  written  these  few  lines 
to  assure  you,  that  in  the  remoter  parts  of  our  coun 
try,  as  well  as  in  her  high  places,  you  are  remem 
bered  with  pity  and  with  affection. 

“Sisters  and  friends,  wre  extend  across  the  ocean 
our  hands  to  you  in  the  fellowship  of  Christ.  We 


72 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


pray  that  His  Cross  and  the  banner  of  your  land 
may  rise  together  over  the  Crescent  and  the  Mina- 
ret— that  your  sons  may  hail  the  freedom  of  ancient 
Greece  restored,  and  build  again  the  waste  places 
which  the  oppressor  hath  trodden  down;  and  that 
you,  admitted  once  more  to  the  felicities  of  home, 
may  gather  from  past  perils  and  adversities  a 
orighter  wreath  for  the  kingdom  of  Heaven. 

“ Lydia  H.  Sigourney, 

“ Secretary  of  the  Greek  Committee  of 
Hartford , Connecticut 


‘‘MOTHER  BAILEY.” 


No  braver  dames  had  Sparta, 

No  nobler  matrons  Rome. 

W.  D.  Gallagher. 

Anna  Warner  was  born  in  Groton,  Connecticut, 
on  tbe  eleventh  of  October,  1758,  and  married 
Captain  Elijah  Bailey  of  the  same  town,  in  1774. 
He  participated  in  the  hardships  and  dangers,  and 
she  in  the  trials  of  the  struggle  for  Independence. 
He  is  dead ; she  is  still  living.* 

She  was  a witness  of  the  terrible  massacre  at 
Fort  Griswold,  in  Groton,  on  the  sixth  of  September ; 
and  the  following  morning  she  hurried  off  to  the 
scene  of  carnage,  a distance  of  three  miles,  to 
search  for  an  uncle  who  was  among  the  brave  de- 
fenders. She  found  him  among  the  fatally  wounded: 
at  his  request  that  he  might  see  his  wife  and 
child  before  he  died,  she  ran  home,  caught  and 
saddled  a horse  for  the  feeble  mother,  and  taking 
the  child  in  her  arms,  carried  it  the  whole  distance, 
that  it  might  receive  the  kisses  and  benediction  of 
its  dying  father ! 

*We  are  informed  by  tbe  Postmaster  of  Groton,  in  a letter  dated 
tbe  tenth  of  December,  1850,  that  Mrs.  B.  is  still  living,  and  that  her 
mind  is  somewhat  impaired.  She  is  now  in  her  ninety-third  year. 


74 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


In  the  month  of  July,  1813  a blockading  fleet 
appeared  off  the  harbor  of  New  London;  and  on 
the  thirteenth,  demonstrations  were  noticed  of  an 
intention  to  attack  the  place.  Intense  excitement 
now  prevailed  not  only  in  New  London,  but  in 
all  the  adjacent  towns.  Fort  Griswold  was  once 
more  occupied  ; small  cannon  — all  to  be  had  — 
were  planted,  and  every  preparation  possible  was 
made  for  a vigorous  defence.  The  greatest  defi- 
ciency was  in  flannel  for  cartridges ; and  in  the 
emergency  a messenger  was  dispatched  to  the 
village  to  consult  with  Mrs.  Bailey  on  the  most 
expeditious  method  of  obtaining  a supply.  She 
promptly  offered  to  see  that  each  family  was 
visited,  and  the  wants  of  the  soldiery  made  known. 
This  was  done,  and  each  individual  in  the  neigh- 
borhood cheerfully  presented  her  and  her  co-laborers 
whatever  of  the  desired  articles  could  be  spared, 
some  in  garments  and  some  in  the  raw  material. 
When  these  were  delivered  to  the  messenger,  and 
there  was  still  found  a deficiency,  she  slyly  slipped 
an  under  garment  from  her  own  person  and  char- 
ged him  to  give  that  to  the  British.  As  the  enemy 
did  not  deem  it  expedient  to  make  an  attack,  it 
is  difficult  to  tell  what  aid  that  garment  rendered ; 
nor  does  it  matter:  its  patriotic  surrender  showed 
the  noble  spirit  which  has  always  actuated 
“ mother  Bailey,”  and  was  an  appropriation  for 
her  country  which  never  caused  her  a blush.  * 


* The  editor  of  the  Democratic  Review,  to  whom  we  are  indebted 
for  a portion  of  these  facts,  visited  the  heroine  of  Groton  in  the  fall 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


75 


of  1846,  in  the  number  of  his  periodical  for  the  January  following 
spoke  of  her  as  a remarkable  woman,  physically,  as  well  as  mentally 
And  patriotically.  She  was  then  eighty-eight  years  old,  yet  as  agile  as 
a girl  of  eighteen,  and  neither  sight  nor  hearing  had  began  to  fail. 
“ Such  then,”  he  adds,  “ is  Mother  Bailey.  Had  she  lived  in  the  palmy 
days  of  ancient  Roman  glory,  no  matron  of  the  mighty  empire  would 
have  been  more  highly  honored.”  In  the  same  article  Mrs.  B.  is  spoken 
of  as  the  Postmistress  of  Groton,  an  office,  which  the  present  Post- 
master assures  us,  she  never  held. 

Since  the  above  was  originally  stereotyped,  Mrs.  Bailey  has  died. 
Her  demise  occurred  in  the  winter  of  1850-1. 


ELIZABETH  HEARD. 


Kindness  has  resistless  charms. 

Rochester. 

Why  should’st  thou  faint  ? Heaven  smiles  above. 

Though  storm  and  vapor  intervene. 

Park  Benjamin. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Heard,  “a  widow  of  good  estate, 
a mother  of  many  children  and  a daughter  of  Mr. 
Hull,  a revered  minister  formerly  living  at  Pisquata- 
qua,”  was  among  the  sufferers  from  captivity  by  the 
Indians  in  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century. 
She  was  taken  at  the  destruction  of  Major  Waldron’s 
garrison  in  Dover,  New  Hampshire,  about  1689.  She 
was  permitted  to  escape  on  account  of  a favor  which 
she  had  shown  a young  Indian  thirteen  years  before — ■ 
she  having  secreted  him  in  her  house  on  the  “ calami- 
tous day,”  in  1676,  when  four  hundred  savages  were 
surprised  in  Dover.* 

Having  been  suffered  to  escape,  writes  the  Rev. 
John  Pike,  minister  at  Dover,  to  Dr.  Cotton  Mather, 
“she  soon  after  safely  arrived  at  Captain  Gerish’s 


* Drake’s  Indian  Captivities. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


77 


garrison,  where  she  found  a refuge  from  the  storm. 
Here  she  also  had  the  satisfaction  to  understand  that 
her  own  garrison,  though  one  of  the  first  that  was 
assaulted,  had  been  bravely  defended  and  succes- 
fully  maintained  against  the  enemy.  This  gentle- 
woman’s garrison  was  on  the  most  extreme  fron- 
tier of  the  province,  and  more  obnoxious  than  any 
other,  and  therefore  incapable  of  being  relieved. 
Nevertheless,  by  her  presence  and  courage  it  held 
out  all  the  war,  even  for  ten  years  together ; and  the 
persons  in  it  have  enjoyed  very  eminent  preserva- 
tions. It  would  have  been  deserted  if  she  had  ac- 
cepted offers  that  were  made  her  by  her  friends  to 
abandon  it  and  retire  to  Portsmouth  among  them, 
which  would  have  been  a damage  to  the  town  and 
land.” 


TIIE  LADIES  OF  PHILADELPHIA  IN  1780. 


I have  not  shut  mine  ears  to  their  demands, 

Nor  posted  off  their  suits  with  slow  delays. 

Shakspeare. 

During  the  long  war  which  resulted  in  the  Inde- 
pendence of  the  American  Colonies,  the  women  all 
over  the  land  were  warmly  interested  in  the  con- 
dition of  the  soldiers,  and  prompt  to  relieve  their 
wants  when  suffering.  There  was,  at  times,  a sad 
deficiency  of  wearing  apparel  ; and  many  are  the 
instances  in  which  a noble  sacrifice  of  ease  and  a 
liberal  expenditure  of  time  and  strength,  were  made 
by  the  ladies  that  this  comfort  might  be  restored 
to  the  self-sacrificing  soldiers. 

In  1780,  the  ladies  of  Philadelphia  city  and 
county,  learning  that  the  soldiers  were  in  great 
need  of  clothing,  sold  their  jewelry  and  converted 
itJier  trinkets  into  something  more  serviceable;  col- 
lected by  solicitation  large  sums  of  money ; pur- 
chased the  raw  material,  plied  the  needle  “ with 
all  diligence ;”  and  in  a short  time  the  aggregate 
amount  of  their  contributions  was  $7,500.* 

* This  sum  was  raised  iu  and  immediately  around  Philadelphia, 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


79 


The  number  of  shirts  made  by  the  ladies  of  Phi- 
ladelphia during  that  patriotic  movement,  was  twen- 
ty-two hundred ! These  were  cut  out  at  the  house 
of  Mrs.  Sarah  Bache,  daughter  of  Dr.  Franldin. 
This  lady  writing  to  a Mrs.  Meredith,  of  Trenton, 
New  Jersey,  at  that  time,  says,  “I  am  happy  to 
have  it  in  my  power  to  tell  you  that  the  sums 
given  by  the  good  women  of  Philadelphia  for  the 
benefit  of  the  army,  have  been  much  greater  than 
could  be  expected,  and  given  with  so  much  cheer- 
fulness and  so  many  blessings,  that  it  was  rather  a 
pleasing  than  a painful  task  to  call  for  them.  1 
write  to  claim  you  as  a Philadelphian,  and  shall 
think  myself  honored  in  your  donation.” 

The  efforts  of  the  ladies  were  not,  however,  limited  to  their  own 
neighborhood.  They  addressed  circulars  to  the  adjoining  counties  and 
states,  and  the  response  of  New  Jersey  and  Maryland  was  truly  ge- 


nerous. 


THE  WIFE  OF  PRESIDENT  KEED.* 


Mightier  far 

Than  strength  of  nerve  or  sinew,  or  the  sway 
Of  magic  potent  over  sun  and  star. 

Is  love,  though  oft  to  agony  distrest, 

And  though  his  favorite  seat  be  feeble  woman’s  breast 

Wordsworth 

Undaunted  by  the  tempest,  wild  and  chill, 

That  pours  its  restless  and  disastrous  roll, 

O’er  all  that  blooms  below. 

Sands’  Yamoyden. 

Prominent  among  the  ladies  of  Philadelphia  who, 
in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1780,  were  active  in 
assisting  the  sufferers  in  the  American  army,  was 
Esther  Peed,  the  wife  of  President  Peed.  She  stood 
at  the  head  of  the  Association  till  her  death,  which 
occurred  on  the  eighteenth  of  September  of  that 
year.  She  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  Sarah  Bache, 
Mrs.  Francis,  Mrs.  Clarkson,  Mrs.  Blair  and  Mrs. 
Hillegas,  who  were  constituted  an  Executive  Com- 
mittee. 


* The  facts  embodied  in  this  notice  of  Mrs.  Reed,  are  mainly  ob- 
tained from  the  Life  and  Correspondence  of  President  Reed.  Vide 
volume  II.,  chapter  XII. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


81 


The  maiden  name  of  Mrs.  Reed  was  De  Berdt. 
She  was  born  in  London  on  the  twenty-second  of 
October,  1746.  There,  about  the  year  1763,  she 
became  acquainted  with  Mr.  Joseph  Reed,  of  New 
Jersey,  then  a student  at  the  Temple.  She  had  fond 
parents  and  lived  in  affluence,  but  from  these  she  at 
length  turned,  and,  being  married  in  May,  1770, 
u followed  the  lover  of  her  youth  to  these  wild  Colo- 
nies.5’ Philadelphia  became  the  home  of  the  happj 
couple.  The  wife  of  an  American,  she  imbibed  the 
sentiments  and  manifested  the  spirit  of  an  American, 
and  to  the  day  of  her  death  showed  herself  worthy 
to  be  the  wife  of  an  American  soldier.  “During 
five  years  of  war,  more  than  half  the  time  her  fa- 
mily was  broken  up,  and  for  a long  period  the  young 
wife,  with  her  little  children  and  an  aged  mother, 
was  driven  to  seek  a distant  and  precarious  refuge.55 
Her  husband  was  an  Adjutant-General,  and  was  in 
the  camp  much  of  the  time,  till  he  was  chosen 
President — or,  as  we  now  say,  Governor — of  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1778.  Her  letters  written  to  him, 
breathe  a patriotic  and  submissive  spirit,  and  a cheer- 
ful trust  in  that  “ presiding  Power55  from  whom  all 
solace  is  derived  in  seasons  of  danger,  disappoint- 
ment and  affliction. 

She  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  voluntary  asso- 
ciation of  Philadelphia  ladies  at  its  formation  in 
May,  and  as  early  as  the  twentieth  of  the  follow- 
ing month,  it  will  be  seen,  by  an  extract  from  a 
letter  written  by  Mr.  Reed  to  General  Washington, 
the  business  of  the  society  was  progressing  adrni- 
6 


82 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


rably:  “\The  ladies  have  caught  the  happy  contagion, 
and  in  & few  days  Mrs.  Reed  will  have  the  honor 
of  writing  to  you  on  the  subject.  It  is  expected 
she  will  have  a sum  equal  to  £100,000,  to  be  laid 
out  according  to  your  Excellency’s  direction,  in 
such  a way  as  may  be  thought  most  honorable  and 
gratifying  to  the  brave  old  soldiers  who  have  borne 
so  great  a share  of  the  burden  of  this  war.  1 
thought  it  best  to  mention  it  in  this  way  to  your 
Excellency  for  your  consideration,  as  it  may  tend  to 
forward  the  benevolent  scheme  of  the  donors  with 
dispatch.  I must  observe  that  the  ladies  have 
excepted  such  articles  of  necessity,  as  clothing, 
which  the  states  are  bound  to  provide.” 

The  following  letter,  written  the  next  month,  ex 
plains  itself: 

“ ESTHER  REED  TO  WASHINGTON. 

“ Philadelphia,  July  4th,  1780. 
“Sir, — The  subscription  set  on  foot  by  the  ladies 
of  this  city  for  the  use  of  the  soldiery,  is  so  far 
completed  as  to  induce  me  to  transmit  to  your  Ex- 
cellency an  account  of  the  money  I have  received, 
and  which,  although  it  has  answered  our  expecta- 
tions, does  not  equal  our  wishes,  but  I am  per- 
suaded will  be  received  as  a j>roof  of  our  zeal  for 
the  great  cause  of  America,  and  our  esteem  and 
gratitude  for  those  who  so  bravely  defend  it. 

“The  amount  of  the  subscription  is  200,580  dol- 
lars, and  £625  6s.  8 d.  in  specie,  which  makes  in 
the  whole,  in  paper  money,  300,634  dollars. 

“ The  ladies  are  anxious  for  the  soldiers  to  receive 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


S3 


benefit  of  it,  and  wait  your  directions  how  it 
can  best  be  disposed  of.  We  expect  some  consi- 
derable addition  from  the  country,  and  have  also 
wrote  to  the  other  States  in  hopes  the  ladies  there 
will  adopt  similar  plans,  to  render  it  more  general 
and  beneficial. 

“With  the  utmost  pleasure  I offer  any  further 
attention  and  care  in  my  power  to  complete  the 
execution  of  the  design,  and  shall  be  happy  to  ac- 
complish it  agreeable  to  the  intention  of  the  donors 
and  your  wishes  on  the  subject. 

“The  ladies  of  my  family  join  me  in  their  re- 
spectful compliments  and  sincerest  prayer  for  your 
health,  safety,  and  success. 

“I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

“With  the  highest  respect, 

“Your  obedient  humble  servant, 

“E.  Reed.” 

During  the  months  of  July  and  August,  though 
in  feeble  health,  Mrs.  Reed  held  frequent  corres- 
pondence with  General  Washington  on  tne  best 
mode  of  administering  relief  to  the  destitute  sol- 
diers. Her  desire  to  make  herself  useful  may  be 
inferred  from  the  tone  of  a letter  addressed  to  her 
husband  from  the  banks  of  the  Schuylkill,  on  the 
twenty-second  of  August.  Among  other  things,  she 
says,  “ I received  this  morning  a letter  from  the 
General,  and  he  still  continues  his  opinion  that  the 
money  in  my  hands  should  be  laid  out  in  linen  ; he 
says,  no  supplies  he  has  at  present  or  has,  a prospect 
of  are  any  way  adequate  to  the  wants  of  the  army. 


84 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


His  letter  is,  I think,  a little  formal,  as  if  he  was 
hurt  by  our  asking  his  opinion  a second  time,  and 
our  not  following  his  directions,  after  desiring  him 
to  give  them.  The  letter  is  very  complaisant,  and  I 
shall  now  endeavor  to  get  the  shirts  made  as  soon 
as  possible.  This  is  (mother  circumstance  to  urge 
my  return  to  town , as  I can  do  little  towards  it 
hereT 

The  responsible  and  onerous  duties  of  Mrs.  Reed 
during  the  summer  of  1780,  were  no  doubt  injuri- 
ous to  her  already  poor  health,  and  hastened  the 
approach  of  death.  Early  in  September  she  was 

laid  upon  a bed  of  fatal  illness,  and  before  the 
month  had  closed,  as  before  mentioned,  she  was  in 
the  “ mysterious  realm.”  The  Council  and  Assem- 
bly adjourned  to  pay  their  last  respect  to  her  exal- 
ted virtues.  Her  remains  were  deposited  in  the 
Presbyterian  burying-ground  in  Arch  Street,  and  the 
following  epitaph  was  inscribed  on  her  tomb  : 

“In  memory  of  Esther,  the  beloved  wife  of  Joseph  Reed, 
President  of  this  State,  who  departed  this  life 
On  the  18th  of  September,  a.  d.  1780,  aged  34  years. 

Reader ! If  the  possession  of  those  virtues  of  the  heart 
Which  make  life  valuable,  or  those  personal  endowments  which 
Command  esteem  and  love,  may  claim  respectful  and  affectionate 
Remembrance,  venerate  the  ashes  here  entombed. 

If  to  have  the  cup  of  temporal  blessings  dashed 
In  the  period  and  station  of  life  in  which  temporal  blessings 
May  be  best  enjoyed,  demands  our  sorrow,  drop  a tear,  and 
Think  how  slender  is  that  thread  on  which  the  joys 
And  hopes  of  life  depend.” 


COMPLETION  OF  BUNKER  HILL  MONUMENT. 


The  tardy  pile,  slow  rising  there, 

With  tongueless  eloquence  shall  tell 
Of  them  who  for  their  country  felL 

Sprague. 


Ladies,  you  deserve 
To  have  a temple  built  you. 

Shakspeare. 


The  Bunker  Hill  Monument  Association  was  in- 
corporated in  June,  1823.  Nothing  further  was  done 
that  year.  At  the  second  annual  meeting,  which 
was  held  on  the  seventeenth  of  June,  efficient  plans 
were  devised  to  carry  forward  the  enterprise;  and 
at  the  end  of  another  year,  just  half  a century  after 
the  battle,  the  corner  stone  was  laid.  General  La- 
fayette was  then  on  a visit  to  the  United  States,  and 
was  appropriately  chosen  to  take  a leading  part  in 
this  interesting  ceremony.  The  monument  did  not 
get  fairly  under  way  till  the  spring  of  1827.  This 
apparent  tardiness  was  owing  to  the  circumstance 
that  the  material  was  to  be  brought  from  a granite 
quarry  in  Quincy,  and  a ran  road — the  first  in  the 
United  States  — had  to  be  built  from  the  quarry  to 
the  wharf  in  Quincy  to  convey  the  stone. 


86 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


In  1828,  the  funds  were  exhausted,  and  the  wor* 
was  not  resumed  till  1834.  Within  a year  the  work 
was  again  suspended  for  the  same  cause.  Nothing 
further  was  done,  and  hut  little  said,  till  1839,  when 
it  was  announced  that  two  gentlemen — Amos  Law- 
rence, Esq.,  of  Boston,  and  Judah  Truro,  Esq.,  of 
New  Orleans  — would  give  ten  thousand  each,  pro- 
vided a sum  sufficient  to  complete  the  monument 
could  be  raised.  This  liberal  offer  caused  some  mo- 
mentary stimulation;  but  no  proposal  immediately 
made  was  deemed  expedient. 

The  affairs  of  the  Association  now  wore,  as  they 
had  done  once  or  twice  before,  a gloomy  aspect.  In 
the  annual  report,  made  on  the  seventeenth  of  June, 
1840,  doubts  were  expressed  whether  the  present  gen- 
eration would  see  the  monument  completed.  The 
same  discouraging  remark  was  made  soon  after,  in 
one  of  the  sewing  circles  of  Boston,  when,  instead  of 
depressing  the  spirits,  it  raised  the  ambition  and 
quickened  the  thoughts  of  the  ladies,  and  several  of 
them  proposed  to  get  up  a Fair.  It  was  a happy 
suggestion ; was  forthwith  sanctioned  by  the  board 
of  directors ; prompted  the  issuing  of  a circular  by 
a sub-committee  of  the  same ; raised  the  stentorian 
voice  of  a free  and  patriotic  press,  and  met  with 
immediate  favor  all  over  the  land. 

The  ladies  had  moved  in  the  matter  — had  taken 
the  work  into  their  own  hands  — and  all  doubts  in 
regard  to  its  speedy  completion  seemed  to  vanish. 
The  Fair  was  announced  to  be  held  in  Quincy  Hall, 
Boston,  to  commence  on  the  fifth  of  September,  1840 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


87 


Every  female  in  the  land  was  invited  to  contribute 
some  article  of  her  own  hands’  production,  to  the 
exhibition.  The  patriotic  spirit  of  the  mothers  of  the 
Revolution  was  now  warm  in  the  hearts  of  their 
daughters , and  ten  thousand  hands,  engaged  in  the 
work  of  preparation,  were  u plying  the  needle  with 
exquisite  art.” 

The  ladies  were  to  have  the  complete  management 
of  the  Fair ; and,  all  things  in  readiness,  it  com- 
menced. The  product  of  so  much  industry  and 
ingenuity,  dispensed  at  the  hands  of  the  ladies, 
presented  a scene  to  the  thousands  who  gathered 
around  the  numerous  well-stored  tables,  that  is  de- 
scribed by  a writer — doubtless  an  eye-witness  — as 
“ brilliant  and  inspiring.”* 

The  Fair  continued  till  the  fifteenth-  of  the  month. 
Its  success  was  chronicled  from  day  to  day  in  a 
journal  called  “ The  Monument,”  printed  in  the 
Hall.  It  was  the  grandest  -movement  of  the  kind 
ever  made  in  the  country;  was  conducted  through- 
out in  the  most  admirable  manner,  and  wound 
up  in  triumph.  Its  net  proceeds  were  $30,035  50. 
To  this  sum  and  the  $20,000  pledged  by  the  two 
gentlemen  before  mentioned,  was  soon  added  enough, 
from  other  sources,  to  make  the  fund  $55,153  27; 
and  the  work  went  on  to  its  completion.f  Thus, 


* Frothingham’s  Siege  of  Boston. 

t The  last  stone  was  raised  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty-third  of 
July,  1842  ; the  government  of  the  Association  and  a multitude  of  othei 
people  were  present  on  the  occasion.  Just  before  this  act  took  place,  a 
cannon  was  raised  to  ihe  apex  and  discharged  — a morning  salute  to  call 


88 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


at  length,  a “duty  had  been  performed;’5  this  imps 
rishable  offering  to  Freedom,  “which  had  its  com 
mencement  in  manly  patriotism,”  was  “crowned  b;y 
garlands  of  grace  and  beauty.” 


the  people  togethei  to  engage  in  the  matins  of  Freedom.  Edward  Carnes, 
Jr.,  of  Charlestown,  accompanied  the  stone  in  its  ascent,  waving  the 
American  flag  as  he  went  up,  and  the  Charlestown  Artillery  were  mean- 
while firing  salutes  to  announce  to  the  surrounding  country  the  interest- 
ing event 


LYDIA  DAEEAE 


The  brave  man  is  not  he  who  feels  no  fear. 

For  that  were  stupid  and  irrational ; 

But  he  whose  noble  soul  its  fear  subdues, 

And  bravely  dares  the  danger  nature  shrinks  from. 

Joanna  Baillie. 

We  find  the  following  anecdote  of  the  amiable 
and  heroic  Quakeress,  Lydia  Darrah,  in  the  first 
number  of  the  American  Quarterly  Review: 

When  the  British  army  held  possession  of  Phi]  a 
delphia,  General  Howe’s  head  quarters  were  in 
Second  street,  the  fourth  door  below  Spruce,  in  a 
house  which  was  before  occupied  by  General  Cad* 
walader.  Directly  opposite,  resided  William  and 
Lydia  Darrah,  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 
A superior  officer  of  the  British  army,  believed  to 
be  the  Adjutant  General,  fixed  upon  one  of  their 
chambers,  a back  room,  for  private  conference ; 
and  two  of  them  frequently  met  there,  with  fire 
and  candles,  in  close  consultation.  About  the  se- 
cond of  December,  the  Adjutant  General  told  Lydia 
that  they  would  be  in  the  room  at  seven  o’clock, 
and  remain  late;  and  that  they  wished  the  family 
to  retire  early  to  bed;  adding,  that  when  they 


90 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


were  going  away,  they  would  call  her  to  let  them 
out,  and  extinguish  their  fire  and  candles.  She 
accordingly  sent  all  the  family  to  bed ; but,  as  the 
officer  had  been  so  particular,  her  curiosity  was 
excited.  She  took  off  her  shoes,  and  put  her  ear 
to  the  key-hole  cf  the  conclave.  She  overheard  an 
order  read  for  all  the  British  troops  to  march  out, 
late  in  the  evening  of  the  fourth,  and  attack  Gen- 
eral Washington’s  army,  then  encamped  at  White 
Marsh.  On  hearing  this,  she  returned  to  her 
chamber  and  laid  herself  down.  Soon  after,  the 
officers  knocked  at  her  door,  but  she  rose  only  at 
the  third  summons,  having  feigned  to  be  asleep. 
Tier  mind  was  so  much  agitated  that,  from  this 
moment,  she  could  neither  eat  nor  sleep ; sup- 
posing it  to  be  in  her  power  to  save  the  lives  of 
thousands  of  her  countrymen ; but  not  knowing 
how  she  was  to  convey  the  necessarj^  information 
to  General  Washington,  nor  daring  to  confide  it 
even  to  her  husband.  The  time  left,  was,  however, 
short;  she  quickly  determined  to  make  her  way, 
as  soon  as  possible,  to  the  American  outposts. 
She  informed  her  family,  that,  as  they  were  in 
want  of  flour,  she  would  goto  Frankfort  for  some; 
her  husband  insisted  that  she  should  take  with  her 
the  servant  maid  ; but,  to  his  surprise,  she  positively 
refused.  She  got  access  to  General  Howe,  and  so- 
licited — what  he  readily  granted,  — a pass  through 
the  British  troops  on  the  lines.  Leaving  her  bag 
at  the  mill,  she  hastened  towards  the  American 
lines,  and  encountered  on  her  way  an  American, 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


91 


Lieutenant  Colonel  Craig,  of  the  light  horse,  who, 
with  some  of  his  men,  was  on  the  look-out  for 
information.  He  knew  her,  and  inquired  whither  she 
was  going.  She  answered,  in  quest  of  her  son,  an 
officer  in  the  American  army;  and  prayed  the 
Colonel  to  alight  and  walk  with  her.  He  did  so, 
ordering  his  troops  to  keep  in  sight.  To  him  she 
disclosed  her  momentous  secret,  after  having  ob- 
tained from  him  the  most  solemn  promise  never  to 
betray  her  individually,  since  her  life  mignt  be  at 
stake,  with  the  British.  He  conducted  her  to  a 
house  near  at  hand,  directed  a female  in  it  to  give 
her  something  to  eat,  and  he  speeded  for  head 
quarters,  where  he  brought  General  Washington 
acquainted  with  what  he  had  heard.  Washington 
made,  of  course,  all  preparation  for  baffling  the 
meditated  surprise.  Lydia  returned  home  with  her 
flour ; sat  up  alone  to  watch-  the  movement  of  the 
British  troops ; heard  their  footsteps ; but  when 
they  returned,  in  a few  days  after,  did  not  dare 
to  ask  a question,  though  solicitous  to  learn  the 
event.  The  next  evening,  the  Adjutant  General 
came  in,  and  requested  her  to  walk  up  to  his 
room,  as  he  wished  to  put  some  questions.  She 
followed  him  in  terror;  and  when  he  locked  the 
door,  and  begged  her,  with  an  air  of  mystery  to  be 
seated,  she  was  sure  that  she  was  either  suspected, 
or  had  been  betrayed.  He  inquired  earnestly  whether 
any  of  her  family  were  up  the  last  night  he  and 
the  other  officer  met : — she  told  him  that  they  all 
retired  at  eight  o’clock.  He  observed  — “I  know 


92 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


you  were  asleep,  for  I knocked  at  jour  chamber  dooi 
three  times  before  jou  heard  me ; — I am  entirely  at 
a loss  to  imagine  who  gave  General  Washington  in- 
formation of  our  intended  attack,  unless  the  walls  of 
the  house  could  speak.  When  we  arrived  near  White 
Marsh,  we  found  all  their  cannon  mounted,  and  the 
troops  prepared  to  receive  us ; and  we  have  marched 
back  like  a parcel  of  fools.” 


WIDOW  STOREY* 


Stick  to  your  aim ; the  mongrel  *s  hold  will  slip, 

But  only  crow-bars  loose  the  bull-dog  *s  lip ; 

Small  as  he  looks,  the  jaw  that  never  yields, 

Drags  down  the  bellowing  monarch  of  the  field». 

Holmes. 

The  first  man  who  commenced  a settlement  in 
the  town  of  Salisbury,  Yermont,  on  the  Otter  creek, 
was  Amos  Storey,  who,  in  making  an  opening  in 
the  heart  of  the  wilderness  on  the  right  of  land  to 
which  the  first  settler  was  entitled,  was  killed  by 
the  fall  of  a tree.  His  widow,  who  had  been  left 
in  Connecticut,  immediately  resolved  to  push  into 

* For  this  anecdote  and  that  of  Mrs.  Hendee,  we  are  indebted  to  the 
Hon.  Daniel  P.  Thompson,  of  Montpelier,  author  of  “ The  Green  Moun- 
tain Boys,”  “ Locke  Amsden,”  <fcc.  In  a note  to  the  author,  in  a letter 
which  contained  these  anecdotes,  he  appropriately  observes  that  “ the 
women  of  the  Green  Mountains  deserve  as  much  credit  for  their  various 
displays  of  courage,  endurance  and  patriotism,  in  the  early  settlement  of 
their  State,  as  was  ever  awarded  to  their  sex  for  similar  exhibitions  in 
any  part  of  the  world.  In  the  controversy  with  Hew  York  and  Hew 
Hampshire,  which  took  the  form  of  war  in  many  instances  ; in  the  pre- 
datory Indian  incursions,  and  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  they  often 
displayed  a capacity  for  labor  and  endurance,  a spirit  and  firmness  in 
the  hour  of  danger,  and  a resolution  and  hardihood  in  defending  their 
families,  and  their  threatened  land  against  all  enemies,  whether  domestic 
or  foreign,  that  would  have  done  honor  to  the  dames  of  Sparta.” 


94 


JNOBLE  DEEDS 


the  wilderness,  with  her  ten  small  children,  to  take 
his  place  and  preserve  and  clear  up  his  farm.  And 
this  bold  resolution  she  carried  ont  to  the  letter,  in 
spite  of  every  difficulty,  hardship  and  danger  which 
for  years  constantly  beset  her  in  her  solitary  loca- 
tion in  the  woods.  Acre  after  acre  of  the  dense 
and  dark  forest  melted  away  before  her  axe,  which 
she  handled  with  the  dexterity  of  the  most  experi- 
enced chopper.  The  logs  and  bushes  were  piled 
and  burnt  by  her  own  strong  and  untiring  hand  : 
crops  were  raised,  by  which,  with  the  fruits  of  her 
fishing  and  unerring  rifle,  she  supported  herself  and 
her  hardy  brood  of  children.  As  a place  of  refuge 
from-  the  assaults  of  Indians  or  dangerous  wild 
beasts,  she  dug  out  an  underground  room,  into 
which,  through  a small  entrance  made  to  open  un- 
der an  overhanging  thicket  in  the  bank  of  the 
stream,  she  nightly  retreated  with  her  children. 
And  here  she  continued  to  reside,  thus  living  and 
thus  laboring,  unassisted,  till,  by  her  own  hand  and 
the  help  which  her  boys  soon  began  to  afford  her, 
she  cleared  up  a valuable  farm  and  placed  herself 
in  independent  circumstances  in  life. 


MRS.  HERD  EE. 


I am  their  mother,  who  shall  bar  me  from  them. 

Shakspeare. 

On  the  burning  of  Royalton,  Vermont,  by  the 
Indians,  in  1776,  Mrs.  Hendee,  of  that  place,  exhi- 
bited a praiseworthy  and  heroic  character.  The 
attack  was  sudden,  and  her  husband  being  absent 
in  the  Vermont  regiment,  and  she  being  in  the  field, 
the  Indians  seized  her  children,  carried  them  across 
White  river,  at  that  place  perhaps  an  hundred 
yards  wide  and  quite  deep  for  fording,  and  placed 
them  under  the  keepers  having  the  other  persons 
they  had  collected,  thirty  or  forty  in  number,  in 
charge.  On  discovering  the  fate  of  her  children, 
Mrs.  Hendee  resolutely  dashed  into  the  river,  wa- 
ded through,  and  fearlessly  entering  the  Indian 
camp,  regardless  of  their  tomahawks  menacingly 
flourished  round  her  head,  boldly  demanded  the 
release  of  her  little  ones,  and  persevered  in  her 
alternate  upbraidings  and  supplications,  till  her  re- 
quest was  granted.  She  then  carried  her  children 
back  through  the  river  and  landed  them  in  safety 
on  the  other  bank.  But  not  content  with  what  she 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


9(> 

had  done,  like  a patriot,  as  she  was,  she  immedi 
ately  returned,  begged  for  the  release  of  the  chil- 
dren of  others ; again  was  rewarded  with  success, 
and  brought  two  or  three  more  away;  again  retur- 
ned and  again  succeeded,  till  she  had  rescued  the 
whole  fifteen  of  her  neighbors’  children  who  had 
been  thus  snatched  away  from  their  distracted  pa- 
rents. On  her  last  return  to  the  camp  of  the 
enemy,  the  Indians  were  so  struck  with  her  conduct 
that  one  of  them  declared  that  so  brave  a squaw 
deserved  to  be  carried  across  the  river,  and  offered 
to  take  her  on  his  back  and  carry  her  over.  She, 
in  the  same  spirit,  accepted  the  offer,  mounted  the 
back  of  the  gallant  savage,  was  carried  to  the  oppo- 
site bank,  where  she  collected  her  rescued  troop  of 
children,  and  hastened  away  to  restore  them  to  their 
over-joyed  parents. 


PATRIOTIC  WOMEN  OF  OLD  MIDDLESEX 


In  the  radiant  front  superior  shines 
That  first  paternal  virtue,  public  zeal, 

Who  throws  o’er  all  an  equal  wide  survey, 

And,  ever  musing  on  the  common  weal, 

Still  labors  glorious  with  some  great  design. 

Thomson. 

w Old  Middlesex”  being  our  native  county,  witb 
peculiar  pleasure  and  some  local  pride,  we  record 
the  following  anecdote.  Should  the  historical  plough- 
share be  driven  through  the  other  towns  in  the 
county,  and  the  towns  generally  of  Massachusetts, 
it  would  turn  up  similar  gems  in  abundance,  “ of 
purest  ray  serene.”  We  quote  from  Butler’s  His 
tory  of  Groton : 

u After  the  departure  of  Colonel  Prescott’s  regi- 
ment of  4 minute-men,’  Mrs.  David  Wright,  of  Pep- 
pered. Mrs.  Job  Sliattuck,  of  Groton,  and  the  neigh- 
boring women,  collected  at  what  is  now  Jewett’s 
Bridge,  over  the  Nashua,  between  Peppered  and 
Groton,  clothed  in  their  absent  husbands’  apparel, 
and  armed  with  muskets,  pitchforks,  and  such  other 
weapons  as  they  could  find ; and  having  elected 
Mrs.  Wright  their  commander,  resolutely  determined 

that  no  foe  to  freedom,  foreign  or  domestic,  shouM 

7 


98 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


pass  that  bridge.  For  rumors  were  rife,  tnat  the 
regulars  were  approaching  and  frightful  stories  of 
slaughter  flew  rapidly  from  place  to  place,  and  from 
house  to  house. 

“Soon  there  appeared  one*  on  horseback,  suppo- 
sed to  be  treasonably  engaged  in  conveying  intelli- 
gence to  the  enemy.  By  the  implicit  command  of 
Sergeant  Wright,  he  is  immediately  arrested,  un 
horsed,  searched,  and  the  treasonable  correspondence 
found  concealed  in  his  boots.  He  was  detained  pri- 
soner, and  sent  to  Oliver  Prescott,  Esq.,  of  Groton, 
and  his  dispatches  were  sent  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety.” 

* Captain  Leonard  Whiting,  of  Hollis,  N.  H.,  a noted  tory,  who  was 
the  bearer  of  dispatches  from  Canada  to  the  British  in  Boston. 


THE  CACIQUE’S  NOBLE  DAUGHTER. 


I think  of  thee,  sweet  lady,  as  of  one 
Too  pure  to  mix  with  others,  like  some  star. 

Shining  in  pensive  beauty  all  alone, 

Kindred  with  those  around,  yet  brighter  far. 

Mrs.  Welby. 

In  his  history  of  the  Conquest  of  Florida,  Mr 
Theodore  Irving  repeats,  very  interestingly,  the  story 
of  Juan  Ortiz  who,  with  three  other  Spaniards,  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Indians  by  stratagem.  The  four  cap- 
tives were  taken  to  the  village  of  Hirrihigua,  the  ca- 
cique, who  ordered  them  to  be  executed  on  a day  of 
religious  festival.  Three  were  shot  w’th  arrows;  and 
then  “Juan  Ortiz,  a youth,  scarce  eighteen  years  of 
dge,  of  a noble  family  of  Seville,  was  the  fourth  victim. 
As  they  were  leading  him  forth,  his  extreme  youth 
touched  with  compassion  the  hearts  of  the  wife  and 
daughters  of  the  cacique,  who  interceded  in  his  favor. 

“The  cacique  listened  to  their  importunities,  and 
granted  for  the  present  the  life  of  Ortiz;  — but  a 
wretched  life  did  he  lead.  From  morning  until  even- 
ing he  was  employed  in  bringing  wood  and  water. 


100 


NOBLE  LEEDS 


and  was  allowed  but  little  sleep  and  scanty  food. 
Not  a daj  passed  that  he  was  not  beaten.  On  festi- 
vals he  was  an  object  of  barbarous  amusement  to  the 
cacique,  who  would  oblige  him  to  run,  from  sunrise 
until  sunset,  in  the  public  square  of  the  village,  where 
his  companions  had  met  their  untimely  end,  Indians 
being  stationed  wdth  bows  and  arrows,  to  shoot  him, 
should  he  halt  one  moment.  When  the  day  was 
spent,  the  unfortunate  youth  lay  stretched  on  the  hard 
floor  of  the  hut,  more  dead  than  alive.  At  such  times 
the  wife  and  daughters  of  the  cacique  would  come  to 
him  privately  with  food  and  clothing,  and  by  then* 
kind  treatment  his  life  was  preserved. 

“ At  length  the  cacique,  determining  to  put  an  end 
to  his  victim’s  existence,  ordered  that  he  should  be 
bound  down  upon  a wooden  frame,  in  the  form  of  a 
huge  gridiron,  placed  in  the  public  square,  over  a bed 
of  live  coals,  and  roasted  alive. 

“ The  cries  and  shrieks  of  the  poor  youth  reached 
his  female  protectors,  and  their  entreaties  were  once 
more  successful  with  the  cacique.  They  unbound 
Ortiz,  dragged  him  from  the  fire,  and  took  him  to 
their  dwelling,  where  they  bathed  him  with  the  juice 
of  herbs,  and  tended  him  with  assiduous  care.  After 
many  days  he  recovered  from  his  wounds,  though 
marked  with  many  a scar. 

“His  employment  was  now  to  guard  the  cemetery 
of  the  village.  This  was  in  a lonely  field  in  the  bosom 
of  a forest.  The  bodies  of  the  dead  were  deposited 
in  wooden  boxes,  covered  with  boards,  without  any 
fastening  except  a stone  or  a log  of  wood  laid  upon 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


101 


the  top;  so  that  the  bodies  were  often  cairied  away 
by  wild  beasts. 

4C  In* this  cemetery  was  Ortiz  stationed,  with  a bow 
and  arrows,  to  w^atch  day  and  nigl.1,  and  was  told  that 
should  a single  body  be  carried  away,  he  would  be 
burnt  alive.  He  returned  thanks  to  God  for  having: 

o 

freed  him  from  the  dreaded  presence  of  the  cacique, 
hoping  to  :ead  a better  life  wdth  the  dead  than  he 
had  done  wTith  the  living. 

“While  watching  thus  one  long  wearisome  night, 
sleep  overpowered  him  towards  morning.  lie  wTas 
awakened  by  the  falling  lid  of  one  of  the  chests,  and 
running  to  it,  found  it  empty.  It  had  contained  the 
body  of  an  infant  recently  deceased,  the  child  of  an 
Indian  of  great  note. 

“ Ortiz  doubted  not  some  animal  had  dragged  it 
away,  and  immediately  set  out  in  pursuit.  After 
wandering  for  some  time,  he  heard,  at  a short  distance 
within  the  woods,  a noise  like  that  of  a dog  gnawing 
bones.  Warily  drawing  near  to  the  spot,  he  dimly 
perceived  an  animal  among  the  bushes,  and  invoking 
succor  from  on  high,  let  fly  an  arrow  at  it.  The  thick 
and  tangled  underwood  prevented  his  seeing  the  effect 
of  his  shot,  but  as  the  animal  did  not  stir,  he  flattered 
himself  that  it  had  been  fatal:  with  this  hope  he  waited 
until  the  day  dawned,  when  he  beheld  his  victim,  a 
huge  animal  of  the  panther  kind,  lying  dead,  the 
airow  having  passed  through  his  entrails  and  cleft 
his  heart. 

u Gathering  together  the  mangled  remains  of  the 
infant,  and  replacing  them  in  the  coffin,  Ortiz  dragged 


102 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


iris  victim  in  triumph  to  the  village,  with  the  arrow 
still  in  his  body.  The  exploit  gained  him  credit  with 
the  old  hunters,  and  for  some  time  softened  even  the 
ferocity  of  the  cacique.  The  resentment  of  the  latter, 
however,  from  the  wrongs  he  had  suffered  from  white 
men,  was  too  bitter  to  be  appeased.  Some  time  after, 
his  eldest  daughter  came  to  Ortiz,  and  warned  him 
that  her  father  had  determined  to  sacrifice  him  at  the 
next  festival,  which  was  just  at  hand,  and  that  the 
influence  of  her  mother,  her  sisters,  and  herself  wouM 
no  longer  avail  him.  She  wished  him,  therefore,  to 
take  refuge  with  a neighboring  cacique  named  Mucozo, 
who  loved  her  and  sought  her  in  marriage,  and  who, 
for  her  sake,  would  befriend  him.  ‘This  very  night 
at  midnight.5  said  the  kind-hearted  maiden,  ‘at  the 
northern  extremity  of  the  village  you  will  find  a trusty 
friend  who  will  guide  you  to  a bridge,  about  two 
leagues  hence ; on  arriving  there,  you  must  send  him 
back,  that  he  may  reach  home  before  the  morning 
dawn,  to  avoid  suspicion — for  well  he  knows  that  this 
bold  act,  in  daring  to  assist  you,  may  bring  down  de- 
struction upon  us  both.  Six  leagues  further  on,  you 
will  come  to  the  village  of  Mucozo — tell  him  I have 
sent  you,  and  expect  him  to  befriend  you  in  your  ex- 
tremity— I know  he  will  do  it — go,  and  may  your 
God  protect  you ! 5 Ortiz  threw  himself  at  the  feet  of 
his  generous  protectress,  and  poured  nut  his  acknowl- 
edgments for  the  kindness  she  had  always  shown  him. 
The  Indian  guide  was  at  the  place  appointed,  and  they 
left  the  village  without  alarming  the  warlike  savages 
When  they  came  to  the  bridge,  Ortiz  sent  back  the 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


103 


guide,  in  obedience  to  the  injunction  of  his  mistress, 
and,  continuing  his  flight,  found  himself,  by  break  of 
day,  on  the  banks  of  a small  stream  near  the  village 
of  Mucozo. 

“ Looking  cautiously  around,  he  espied  two  Indians 
fishing.  As  he  was  unacquainted  with  their  language, 
and  could  not  explain  the  cause  of  his  coming,  he  was 
in  dread  lest  they  should  take  him  for  an  enemy  and 
kill  him.  He,  therefore,  ran  to  the  place  where  they 
had  deposited  their  weapons  and  seized  upon  them. 
The  savages  fled  to  the  village  without  heeding  his 
assurances  of  friendly  intention.  The  inhabitants  sal- 
lied out  with  bows  and  arrows,  as  though  they  would 
attack  him.  Ortiz  fixed  an  arrow  in  his  bow,  but  cried 
out  at  the  same  moment,  that  he  came  not  as  an  enemy 
but  as  an  ambassador  from  a female  cacique  to  theii 
chief.  Fortunately  one  present  understood  him,  and 
interpreted  his  words.  On  this  the  Indians  unbent 
their  bows,  and  returning  with  him  to  their  village, 
presented  him  to  Mucozo.  The  latter,  a youthful  chief 
tain,  of  a graceful  form  and  handsome  countenance, 
received  Ortiz  kindly  for  the  sake  of  her  who  had  sent 
him ; but,  on  further  acquaintance,  became  attached  to 
him  for  his  own  merits,  treating  him  with  the  affection 
of  a brother.” 


HUMANE  SPIRIT  OF  A FOREST  MAID. 


“ Beneath  the  gloom 

Of  overshadowing  forests,  sweetly  springs 
The  unexpected  flower.” 

Some  of  the  noblest  attributes  of  humanity  are 
sometimes  exhibited  by  the  wild  children  of  the 
1 orest.  These  attributes,  in  such  cases,  seem,  like 
trees  in  the  remotest  wilderness,  to  have  gained,  by 
their  spontaneous  growth,  surprising  height,  symmetry 
and  beauty. 

A lovelier  character  than  Pocahontas,  daughter 
ui  Powhatan,  king  of  the  country  where  the  first 
white  settlement  in  Virginia  was  made,  is  rarely 
found  among  any  people.  She  was  lovely  in  the 
broadest  as  well  as  noblest  sense  of  that  word  — 
lovely  in  features,  lovely  in  disposition,  lovely  in 
the  highest  adornments  of  Christian  grace.  She 
was,  in  1607,  “ a girl  of  ten  or  twelve  years  of  age, 
who,  not  only  for  feature,  countenance  and  expres- 
sion, much  exceeded  any  of  the  rest  of  her  people, 
but  for  wit  and  spirit  was  the  only  nonpareil  of 
the  country.”  Such  was  Pocahontas,  as  described 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


105 


by  the  first  white  man,  probably,  who  ever  saw 
her,  and  in  whose  behalf,  at  the  above  date,  she 
displayed  the  tenderness  and  true  grandeur  of  her 
nature. 

The  colonists,  writes  Mr.  Hildreth,  in  his  new 
History  of  the  United  States,  “ were  specially  in- 
structed to  seek  for  a passage  to  the  South  Sea ; 
and  it  was  thought  that  possibly  the  Chickaho- 
ming  might  lead  thither.  Having  ascended  as 
high  as  fie  could  in  his  barge,  Captain  Smith  fol- 
lowed up  the  stream  in  a canoe,  with  two  colonists 
and  two  Indians  for  companions ; and  when  the  ca- 
noe would  float  no  longer,  he  left  the  two  colonists 
to  guard  it,  and  struck  inland  with  a single  Indian 
as  a guide.  Set  upon  unexpectedly  by  a large  party 
of  natives,  who  had  already  surprised  and  killed 
the  two  men  left  to  guard  the  canoe,  Smith  bound 
his  Indian  guide  to  his  arm  as  a buckler,  and  made 
a vigorous  defence,  killing  three  of  the  assailants , 
but  as  he  retreated  backward,  he  presently  sank 
into  a miry  swamp,  and  was  taken  prisoner  His 
captors  would  have  killed  him,  but  he  amused 
them  with  a pocket  compass.  Carried  in  a sort  of 
triumph  through  several  villages,  he  was  taken  be- 
fore Powhatan,  the  same  chief  whom  he  had  visited 
in  company  with  Newport.  An  attempt  was  made 
to  engage  his  services — at  least  so  Smith  under- 
stood it  — in  surprising  the  colonists  at  Jamestown. 
Having  failed  in  this,  after  much  consultation,  it 
was  resolved  to  put  him  to  death.  He  was  drag- 
ged to  the  grcund  and  his  head  placed  upon  a stone; 


106 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


Powhatan  raised  a club  to  dash  out  his  brains5'—* 
and  now  view  the  highly  dramatic  scene  which  fol- 
lows, as  pictured  by  Mrs.  Sigourney  in  a few  lines 
of  masterly  coloring: 

The  sentenced  captive  see  — his  brow  how  white  ! 

Stretched  on  the  turf,  his  manly  form  lies  low, 

The  war  club  poises  for  its  fatal  blow, 

The  death-mist  swims  before  his  darkened  sight; 

Forth  springs  the  child,  in  tearful  pity  bold, 

Her  head  on  his  reclines,  her  arms  his  neck  enfold, 

“ The  child ! what  madness  fires  her  ? Hence  ! Depart  ! 

Fly,  daughter,  fly ! before  the  death-stroke  rings ; 

Divide  her,  warriors ! from  that  English  heart.” 

In  vain,  for  with  convulsive  grasp  she  clings  : 

She  claims  a pardon  from  her  frowning  sire  ; 

Her  pleading  tones  subdue  his  gathered  ire, 

And  so,  uplifting  high  his  feathery  dart, 

That  doting  father  gave  the  child  her  will, 

And  bade  the  victim  live  and  be  his  servant  still. 

After  Smith  had  been  an  inmate  of  Powhatan’s 
wigwam  awhile,  he  was  permitted  to  leave  the  In- 
dians. Sometime  after  this  the  savages,  becoming 
alarmed  by  witnessing  Smith’s  wonderful  feats,  “laid 
a plan  to  get  him  into  their  power  under  the  pre- 
tence of  wishing  an  interview  with  him  in  their  ter- 
ritory. But  Pocahontas,  knowing  the  desire  of  the 
warriors,  left  the  wigwam  after  her  father  had  gone 
to  sleep,  and  ran  more  than  nine  miles  through  the 
woods  to  inform  her  friend  Captain  Smith  of  the 
danger  that  awaited  him,  either  by  stratagem  oi 
attack.” 

Subsequently  the  colony  at  Jamestown  was  threat- 
ened with  famine,  when,  accompanied  by  a few 
companions,  she  was  accustomed  to  go  to  the  fort 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


107 


e\rery  day  or  two  with  baskets  of  corn,  and  thus 
her 

• “generous  hand  vouchsafed  its  tireless  aid 

To  guard  a nation’s  germ.” 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  or  eighteen,  Pocahontas 
married  a pious  young  English  officer,  named  Thomas 
Rolfe,  and  went  with  him  to  England,  where  she  was 
baptized  and  called  Rebecca,  and  where  she  soon 
died.  Well  may  it  be  said  of  her,  in  the  language  of 
the  poet,  slightly  altered, 

It  is  not  meet  such  names  should  moulder  in  the  grave. 


¥ 


HANNAH  DUSTIN. 


Experience  teaches  ns 
That  resolution ’s  a sole  help  at  need ; 

And  this,  mj  lord,  our  honor  teacheth  us. 

That  we  be  bold  in  every  enterprise. 

Shakspeare. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  March,  1697,  a band  of  In- 
dian prowlers  broke  into  the  house  of  Mr.  Dustin, 
of  Haverhill,  Massachusetts,  and  captured  his  wife, 
her  nurse,*  and  a babe  about  one  wTeekold.  The 
last  was  killed  before  leaving  the  town.  The  other 
tw^o  were  inarched  through  the  wilderness  for  seve- 
ral days  till  they  came  to  a halt  on  an  island  in 
the  Merrimac  river  about  six  miles  above  Concord, 
Hew  Hampshire.  There  they  wTere  placed  in  a wig- 
wam occupied  by  two  men,  three  wTonfen,  seven 
children  of  theirs,  and  an  English  boy  who  had 
been  captured  about  a year  previous  at  Worcester, 
Massachusetts.  The  captives  remained  there  till  the 
thirtieth  of  that  month  before  they  planned  escape. 
On  that  day  the  boy  was  requested  by  Mrs.  Dustin 
to  ask  his  master  where  to  strike  “to  kill  instantly;” 


Mrs.  Mary  Neflt 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


109 


and  the  savage  was  simple  enough  to  tell,  and  also 
instructed  him  in  the  art  of  scalping.  “At  night,” 
to  use  the  concise  language  of  Mr.  Bancroft,  “ while 
the  household  slumbers,  the  captives,  each  with  a 
tomahawk,  strike  vigorously,  and  fleetly,  and  with 
division  of  labor,  — and  of  the  twelve  sleepers,  ten 
lie  dead ; of  one  squaw  the  wound  was  not  mortal ; 
one  child  was  spared  from  design.  The  love  of 
glory  next  asserted  its  powder ; and  the  gun  and 
tomahawk  of  the  murderer  of  her  infant,  and  a bag 
heaped  full  of  scalps  were  choicely  kept  as  trophies 
of  the  heroine. — The  streams  are  the  guides  which 
God  has  set  for  the  stranger  in  the  wilderness : in  a 
bark  canoe,  the  three  descend  the  Merrimac  to  the 
English  settlements,  astonishing  their  friends  by 
their  escape,  and  filling  the  land  with  wonder  at 
their  successful  daring.” 

Mrs.  Dustin  had  the  happiness  of  meeting  her  hus- 
band and  seven  children,  who  had  escaped  from  the 
house  before  the  savages  entered,  and  the  honor  of 
a very  handsome  present  from  Colonel  Nicholson, 
governor  of  Maryland,  as  a reward  for  her  heroism.* 


* Eleven  jeans  *dter  the  capture  of  Mrs.  Dustin,  a party  of  French  and 
Indians  from  Canada  made  an  attack  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Haverhill, 
and  killed  and  captured  about  forty  persons.  Several  women  exhibited 
on  the  occasion  a remarkable  degree  of  sagacity,  courage  and  presence  ot 
mind.  We  condense  from  Mirick’s  History  of  Haverhill. 

Ann  Whittaker  escaped  the  tomahawk  by  hiding  in  an  apple  chest 
under  the  stairs.  — A negro  servant,  named  Hagar,  covered  a couple 
of  children  with  tubs  in  the  cellar  and  then  concealed  herself  behind 
some  meat  barrels.  The  Indians  trod  on  a foot  of  one  of  the  chil- 
dren and  took  meat  from  the  bairel  behind  which  Hagar  had  hidden, 


110 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


without  discovering  any  of  them. — The  wife  of  Thomas  Hartshorn, 
took  all  her  children  except  the  babe— -which  she  was  afraid  would 
cry  — through  a trap-door  into  the  cellar.  The  enemy  entered  and 
plundered  the  house,  but  did  not  find  the  way  into  the  cellar.  They 
took  the  infant  from  its  bed  in  the  garret  and  threw  it  out  of  the 
window.  Strange  to  say,  though  stunned,  it  lived  and  grew  to  rug- 
ged manhood.  — The  wife  of  Captain  Simon  Wain wright,  after  the 
enjmy  had  killed  her  husband,  let  them  into  the  house  and  treated 
them  kindly.  They  at  length  demanded  money,  when  she  went  out, 
as  she  pretended,  to  get  it.  They  soon  ascertained  — though  too  late 
to  find  her  — that  she  had  fled  with  all  her  children  but  one,  who 
was  taken  captive. 


THE  HEROINES  OF  BRYANT’S  STATION. 


The  brave  example  cannot  perish 
Of  courage. 

Hosmer. 


Nor  could  the  boldest  of  our  youth  have  dared 
To  pass  our  outworks. 

Pope’s  Homer. 

At  the  siege  of  Bryant’s  station  near  Lexington, 
Kentucky,  in  August,  1782,  the  water  in  the  fort  was 
exhausted;  and  as  the  nearest  place  to  obtain  a 
supply  was  a spring  several  rods  off,  it  would  re- 
quire no  small  risk  and,  consequently,  no  common 
intrepidity  to  undertake  to  bring  it.  A body  of 
Indians  in  plain  sight,  were  trying  to  entice  the 
soldiers  to  attack  them  without  the  walls,  while 
another  party  was  concealed  near  the  spring,  waiting, 
it  was  supposed,  to  storm  one  of  the  gates,  should 
the  besieged  venture  out.  It  was  thought  probable 
that  the  Indians  in  ambush  would  remain  so  until 
they  saw  indications  that  the  other  party  had  suc- 
ceeded in  enticing  the  soldiers  to  open  engagement. 

The  position  of  things  was  explained  to  the  women, 
and  they  were  invited  to  each  take  a bucket  and 
march  to  the  spring  in  a body.  “ Some,  as  was  na- 


l12  ntorle  deeds 

hiral,  had  no  relish  for  the  undertaking,  and  asked 
why  the  men  could  not  bring  water  as  well 
as  themselves*  observing  that  they  were  not  bullet- 
proof, and  the  Indians  made  no  distinction  betweeu 
male  and  female  scalps.  To  this  it  was  answered,  that 
the  women  were  in  the  habit  of  bringing  water  every 
morning  to  the  fort;  and  that  if  the  Indians  saw 
them  engaged  as  usual,  it  would  induce  them  to 
think  that  their  ambuscade  was  undiscovered  ; and 
that  they  would  not  unmask  themselves  for  the  sake 
of  firing  at  a few  women,  when  they  hoped,  by 
remaining  concealed  a few  moments  longer,  to  obtain 
complete  possession  of  the  fort:  that  if  men  should 
go  down  to  the  spring,  the  Indians  would  immedi- 
ately suspect  something  was  wrong,  would  despair 
of  succeeding  by  ambuscade,  and  would  instantly 
rush  upon  them,  follow  them  into  the  fort,  or  shoot 
them  down  at  the  spring. 

“The  decision  was  soon  made.  A few  of  the 
boldest  declared  their  readiness  to  brave  the  danger, 
and  the  younger  and  more  timid  rallying  in  the 
rear  of  these  veterans,  they  all  marched  down  in  a 
body  to  the  spring,  within  point  blank  shot  of  more 
than  five  hundred  Indian  warriors ! Some  of  the 
girls  could  not  help  betraying  symptoms  of  terror ; 
but  the  married  women,  in  general,  moved  with  a 
steadiness  and  composure  that  completely  deceived 
the  Indians.  Not  a shot  was  fired.  The  party  were 
permitted  to  fill  their  buckets,  one  after  another, 
without  interruption ; and  although  their  steps  be- 
came quicker  and  quicker,  on  their  return,  and  when 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN 


na 


near  the  fort,  degenerated  into  a rather  unmilitary 
celerity,  with  some  little  crowding  in  passing  the 
gate,  yet  not  more  than  one-fifth  of  the  water  was 
spilled,  and  the  eyes  of  the  youngest  had  not  dilated 
to  more  than  double  their  ordinary  size.55  * 


* M’Clung’s  Sketches  of  Western  Adventure. 


8 


MBS.  DAVIESS. 


,rTis  late  before 
The  brave  despair. 

Thomson. 

Samuel  Daviess  was  an  early  settler  at  a place 
called  Gilmer’s  Lick,  in  Lincoln  county,  Kentucky. 
In  the  month  of  August,  1782,  while  a few  rods 
from  his  4 house,  he  was  attacked  early  one  morning 
by  an  Indian;  and  attempting  to  get  within  doors, 
he  found  that  his  house  was  already  occupied  by 
other  Indians.  Pursued  by.  his  foe,  he  ran  into  a 
cornfield  and  lay  concealed  till  the  savage  gave  up 
the  chase  and  returned  to  the  house.  He  then  ran 
to  his  brother’s  station,  fhre  miles  oif,  gave  the  alarm, 
and  was  soon  returning  with  five  stout,  well  armed 
men. 

Meanwhile  the  Indians  — four  in  number  — who 
bad  entered  the  house  while  the  fifth  was  in  pursuit 
of  Mr.  Daviess,  routed  Mrs.  Daviess  and  the  chil- 
dren from  their  beds,  and  they  soon  understood 
chat  they  must  take  up  a line  of  march  — they  knew 
not  whither.  As  soon  as  she  was  dressed,  Mrs. 
Daviess  “ commenced  showing  the  Indians  one  arti- 
cle of  clothing  and  then  another,  which  pleased  them 
very  much ; and  in  that  way  delayed  them  at  the 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


115 


house  nearly  two  hours.  In  the  mean  time,  the  In- 
dian who  had  been  in  pursuit  of  her  husband 
returned,  with  his  hands  stained  with  poke  berries, 
which  he  held  up,  and  with  some  violent  gestures 
and  waving  of  his  tomahawk,  attempted  to  induce 
the  belief,  that  the  stain  on  his  hands  was  the  blood 
of  her  husband,  and  that  he  had  killed  him.  She 
was  enabled  at  once  to  discover  the  deception,  and 
instead  of  producing  any  alarm  on  her  part,  she 
was  satisfied  that  her  husband  had  escaped  unin 
jured. 

“ After  the  savages  had  plundered  the  house  of 
every  thing  that  they  could  conveniently  carry  off 
with  them,  they  started,  taking  Mrs.  Daviess  and 
her  children — seven  in  number — as  prisoners, 
along  with  them.  Some  of  the  children  were  too 
young  to  travel  as  fast  as  the  Indians  wished,  and 
discovering,  as  she  believed,  their  intention  to  kill 
such  of  them  as  could  not  conveniently  travel,  she 
made  the  two  oldest  boys  carry  them  on  their  backs. 
The  Indians,  in  starting  from  the  house,  were  very 
careful  to  leave  no  signs  of  the  direction  they  had 
taken,  not  even  permitting  the  children  to  break  a 
twig  or  weed  as  they  passed  along.  They  had  nci 
gone  far  before  an  Indian  drew  his  knife  and  cut 
off  a few  inches  of  Mrs.  Daviess5  dress,  so  that 
she  would  not  be  interrupted  in  traveling. 

“Mrs.  Daviess  was  a woman  of  cool,  deliberate 
courage,  and  accustomed  to  handle  the.  gun,  so  that 
she  could  shoot  well,  as  many  of  the  women  were 
in  the  habit  of  doing  in  those  days.  She  had  con 


116 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


templated,  as  a last  resort,  that  if  not  rescued  in 
the  course  of  the  day,  when  night  came  on  and 
the  Indians  had  fallen  asleep,  she  would  deliver 
herself  and  children  by  killing  as  many  of  the  In- 
dians as  she  could  — thinking  that  in  a night  attack 
as  many  of  them  as  remained  would  most  probably 
run  oil*.55  * 

Mr.  Daviess  and  his  comrades  reaching  the  house 
and  finding  it  empty,  hastened  on  in  pursuit  of 
the  Indians.  They  had  gone  but  a few  miles  before 
they  overtook  the  retreating  party.  Two  Indian 
spies  in  the  rear,  first  discovered  the  pursuers,  and 
running  on,  overtook  the  three  others,  with  the 
prisoners,  and  knocked  down  and  scalped,  though 
they  did  not  kill,  the  oldest  boy.  At  that  moment 
the  pursuers  fired  at  the  Indians,  but  missed.  The 
latter  were  now  alarmed  and  confused,  and  Mrs. 
Dayiess,  taking  advantage  of  this  circumstance, 
jumped  into  a sink  hole  with  her  infant  in  her 
arms ; and  the  Indians  fleeing,  every  child  was 
saved. 

“ Kentucky,  in  its  early  days,  like  most  new  conn- 
tries,  was  occasionally  troubled  by  men  of  abandoned 
character,  who  lived  by  stealing  the  property  of 
others,  and,  after  committing  their  depredations, 
retired  to  their  hiding  places,  thereby  eluding  the 
operation  of  the  law.  One  of  these  marauders,  a 
man  of  desperate  character,  who  had  committed  ex- 
tensive thefts  from  Mr.  Daviess,  as  well  as  from  his 


Collins’s  Historical  Sketches  of  Kentucky 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


117 


neighbors,  was  pursued  by  Daviess  and  a party 
whose  property  he  had  taken,  in  order  to  bring 
him  to  justice.  While  the  party  were  in  pursuit, 
the  suspected  individual,  not  knowing  any  one  was 
pursuing  him,  came  to  the  house  of  Daviess,  armed 
with  his  gun  and  tomahawk  — no  person  being  at 
home  but  Mrs.  Daviess  and  her  children.  After  he 
had  stepped  into  the  house,  Mrs.  Daviess  asked  him 
if  he  would  drink  something — and  having  set  a 
bottle  of  whiskey  upon  the  table,  requested  him  to 
help  himself.  The  fellow,  not  suspecting  any  dan- 
ger, set  his  gun  up  by  the  door,  and  while  drinking, 
Mrs.  Daviess  picked  up  his  gun,  and  placing  herself 
in  the  door,  had  the  gun  cocked  and  leveled  upon 
him  by  the  time  he  turned  around,  and  in  a pe- 
remptory manner  ordered  him  to  take  a seat,  or  she 
would  shoot  him.  Struck  with  terror  and  alarm,  he 
asked  what  he  had  done.  She  told  him  he  had 
stolen  her  husband’s  property  and  that  she  intended 
to  take  care  of  him  herself.  In  that  condition  she 
held  him  a prisoner,  until  the  party  of  men  re- 
turned and  took  him  into  their  possession.  * 


Collins. 


A KENTUCKY  AMAZON. 


This  is  true  courage. 

Whitehead’s  Roman  Father, 

During  the  summer  of  1787,  writes  Mr.  McClung, 
in  his  Sketches  of  Western  Adventure,  “The  house 
of  Mr.  John  Merrill,  of  Nelson  county,  Kentucky, 
was  attacked  by  the  Indians,  and  defended  with  sin- 
gular address  and  good  fortune.  Merrill  was  alarmed 
by  the  barking  of  a dog  about  midnight,  and  upon 
opening  the  door  in  order  to  ascertain  the  cause  of 
the  disturbance,  he  received  the  fire  of  six  or  seven 
Indians,  by  which  one  arm  and  one  thigh  were  bro- 
ken. He  instantly  sank  upon  the  floor,  and  called 
upon  his  wife  to  close  the  door.  This  had  scarcely 
been  done  when  it  was  violently  assailed  by  the 
tomahawks  of  the  enemy,  and  a large  breach  soon 
effected.  Mrs.  Merrill,  however,  being  a perfect  ama- 
zon, both  in  strength  and  courage,  guarded  it  with 
an  axe,  and  successively  killed  or  badly  wounded 
four  of  the  enemy  as  they  attempted  to  force  their 
way  into  the  cabin. 

“The  Indians  ascended  the  roof,  and  attempted 
to  enter  by  way  of  the  chimney;  but  here  again 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


Ill* 

they  were  met  by  the  same  determined  enemy.  Mrs. 
Merrill  seized  the  only  feather  bed  which  the  cabin 
afforded,  and  hastily  ripping  it  open,  poured  its  con- 
tents upon  the  fire.  A furious  blaze  and  stifling 
smoke  instantly  ascended  the  chimney,  and  brought 
down  two  of  the  enemy,  who  lay  for  a few  moments 
at  the  mercy  of  the  lady.  Seizing  the  axe,  she 
quickly  dispatched  them,  and  was  instantly  after- 
wards summoned  to  the  door,  where  the  only  re* 
maining  savage  now  appeared,  endeavoring  to  effect 
an  entrance,  while  Mrs.  Merrill  was  engaged  at  the 
chimney.  He  soon  received  a gash  in  the  cheek, 
which  compelled  him,  with  a loud  yell,  to  relinquish 
his  purpose,  and  return  hastily  to  Chillicothe,  where, 
from  the  report  of  a prisoner^  he  gave  an  exagge- 
rated account  of  the  fierceness,  strength,  and  cour 
age  of  the  ‘long  knife  squaw  V ” 


HEKOISM  AT  INNIS  SETTLEMENT. 


Courage  alone  can  save  us. 

Southey. 

The  account  of  the  Indians’  attack  on  the  Innis 
settlement,  near  Frankfort,  Kentucky,  in  April,  1792, 
has  been  differently  related  by  different  writers.  The 
most  reliable  account  is  doubtless  that  given  by  the 
Kev.  Abraham  Cook,  a minister  of  the  Baptist  de- 
nomination and  the  brother  of  Jesse  and  Hosea  Cook, 
whose  wives  were  the  heroines  of  the  settlement. 
The  attack  was  made  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  the 
month,  by  about  one  hundred  Indians,  and  at  three 
points  almost  simultaneously.  The  first  onset  was 
upon  the  Cooks  who  lived  in  cabins  close  together, 
and  where  was  displayed  a degree  of  intrepidity 
rarely  matched. 

“The  brothers  were  near  their  cabins,  one  engaged 
in  shearing  sheep,  the  other  looking  on.  The  sharp 
crack  of  rifles  was  the  first  intimation  of  the  prox- 
imity of  the  Indians;  and  that  fire  was  fatal  to  the 
brothers  — the  elder  fell  dead,  and  the  younger  was 
mortally  wounded,  but  enabled  to  reach  the  cabin. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


121 


The  two  Mrs.  Cook,  with  three  children  — two  whites 
and  one  black  — were  instantly  collected  in  the  house, 
and  the  door,  a very  strong  one,  made  secure.  The 
Indians,  unable  to  enter,  discharged  their  rifles  at  the 
door,  but  without  injury,  as  the  balls  did  not  pene- 
trate through  the  thick  boards  of  which  it  was  con- 
structed. They  then  attempted  to  cut  it  down  with 
their  tomahawks,  but  with  no  better  success.  While 
these  things  occurred  without,  there  was  deep  sor 
row,  mingled  with  fearless  determination  and  high 
resolve  within.  The  younger  Cook,  mortally  wounded, 
immediately  the  door  was  barred,  sank  down  on  the 
floor,  and  breathed  his  last;  and  the  two  Mrs.  Cook 
were  left  the  sole  defenders  of  the  cabin,  with  the 
three  children.  There  was  a rifle  in  the  house,  but 
no  balls  could  be  found.  In  this  extremity,  one  of 
the  women  got  hold  of  a musket  ball,  and  placing 
it  between  her  teeth,  actually  bit  it  into  two  pieces. 
With  one  she  instantly  loaded  the  rifle.  The  Indians, 
failing  in  their  attempts  to  cut  down  the  door,  had 
retired  a few  paces  in  front,  doubtless  to  consult 
upon  their  future  operations.  One  seated  himself 
upon  a log,  apparently  apprehending  no  danger  from 
within.  Observing  him,  Mrs.  Cook  took  aim  from  a 
narrow  aperture  and  fired,  when  the  Indian  gave  a 
loud  yell,  bounded  high  in  the  air,  and  fell  dead. 
This  infuriated  the  savages,  who  threatened  — for 
they  could  speak  English  — to  burn  the  house  and 
all  the  inmates.  Several  speedily  climbed  to  the  top 
of  the  cabin,  and  kindled  a fire  on  the  boards  of 
the  roof.  The  devouring  element  began  to  take  ef 


122 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


feet,  and  with  less  determined  and  resolute  courage 
within,  the  certain  destruction  of  the  cabin  and  the 
death  of  the  inmates,  must  have  been  the  consequence. 
But  the  self  possession  and  intrepidity  of  these  Spar- 
tan females  were  equal  to  the  occasion.  One  of  them 
instantly  ascended  to  the  loft,  and  the  other  handed 
her  water,  with  which  she  extinguished  the  fire. 
Again  and  again  the  roof  was  fired,  and  as  often 
extinguished.  The  water  failing,  the  undaunted  wo- 
men called  for  some  eggs,  which  were  broken  and 
the  contents  thrown  upon  the  fire,  for  a time  hold- 
ing the  flames  at  bay.  Their  next  resource  was  the 
bloody  waistcoat  of  the  husband  and  brother-in- 
law,  who  lay  dead  upon  the  floor.  The  blood  with 
which  this  was  profusely  saturated,  checked  the  pro- 
gress of  the  flames  — but,  as  they  appeared  speedily 
to  be  gathering  strength,  another,  and  the  last  expe- 
dient ....  proved  successful.  The  savage  foe 
yielded,  and  the  fruitful  expedients  of  female  cour- 
age triumphed.  One  Indian,  in  bitter  disappointment, 
fired  at  his  unseen  enemy  through  the  boards,  but 
did  not  injure  her,  when  the  whole  immediately  de- 
scended from  the  roof. 

u About  the  time  the  attack  commenced,  a young 
man  named  McAndre,  escaped  on  horseback,  in  view 
of  the  Indians,  who,  it  was  supposed,  would  give  the 
alarm  to  the  older  neighboring  settlements.  As  soon 
as  they  descended  from  the  house  top,  a few  climbed 
some  contiguous  trees,  and  instituted  a sharp  look 
out.  While  in  the  trees,  one  of  them  fired  a second 
ball  into  the  loft  of  the  cabin,  which  cut  to  pieces 


ov  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


V2Z 


a bundle  ot  jam  hanging  near  the  head  of  Mrs. 
Cook,  but  without  doing  further  injury.  Soon  after, 
they  threw  the  body  of  the  dead  Indian  into  the  ad- 
jacent creek,  and  precipitately  fled.” 


BOLD  EXPLOIT  AT  TAMPICO. 


A.  thousand  hearts  are  great  within  my  bosom; 

Advance  our  standards. 

Shakspeare. 

Rocks  have  been  shaken  from  their  solid  base ; 

But  what  shall  move  a dauntless  soul  ? 

Joanna  Baillie. 

At  the  capture  of  Tampico,  which  took  place  on 
the  fourteenth  of  November,  1846,  a noteworthy  act 
was  performed  by  a lady,  whose  patriotism  and  da- 
ring should  not  be  forgotten.  She  not  only  gave 
Commodore  Connor  full  information  in  regard  to  the 
defence  of  the  place,  with  a plan  of  the  harbor, 
town  and  forts,  but  when  the  squadron  was  approach- 
ing, though  opposed  by  the  city  council  and  even 
menaced,  she  hoisted  the  American  flag  and  per- 
sisted in  waving  it  beneath  the  very  eye  of  the 
OAjuntamiento!  This  intrepid  woman  was  Mrs.  Ann 
Chase,  wife  of  the  American  Consul. 


DICEY  LANGSTON. 


Thou  soul  of  love  and  bravery ! 

Moore. 

Dicey  Langston  was  the  daughter  of  Solomon 
Langston,  of  Laurens  district,  South  Carolina.  She 
possessed  an  intrepid  spirit,  which  is  highly  service- 
able in  times  of  emergency,  and  which,  as  she 
lived  in  the  days  of  the  Devolution,  she  had  more 
than  one  opportunity  to  display.  Situated  in  the 
midst  of  tories,  and  being  patriotically  inquisitive, 
she  often  learned  by  accident,  or  discovered  by 
strategy,  the  plottings  so  common  in  those  days, 
against  the  whigs.  Such  intelligence  she  was  ac 
customed  to  communicate  to  the  friends  of  freedom 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Ennoree  river. 

Learning  one  time  that  a band  of  loyalists  — 
known  in  those  parts  as  the  “Bloody  scout” — were 
about  to  fall  upon  the  “Elder  settlement,”  a place 
where  a brother  of  hers  and  other  friends  were  resi- 
ding, she  resolved  to  warn  them  of  their  danger. 
To  do  this  she  must  hazard  her  own  life.  But  oif 
she  started,  alone,  in  the  darkness  of  the  night; 
traveled  several  miles  through  the  woods,  and  over 


126  NOBLE  DEEDS 

marshes  and  across  creeks,  through  a country  where 
foot-logs  and  bridges  were  then  unknown ; came  to 
the  Tyger,  a rapid  and  deep  stream,  into  which  she 
plunged  and  waded  till  the  water  was  up  to  her 
neck;  she  then  became  bewildered,  and  zigzagged 
the  channel  for  some  time;  reached  the  opposite 
shore  at  length — for  a helping  Hand  was  beneath, 
a kind  Providence  guiding  her  : — hastened  on  ; 
reached  the  settlement,  and  her  brother  and  the 
whole  community  were  safe ! 

She  was  returning  one  day  from  another  settle 
ment  of  whigs — in  the  Spartanburg  district,  when 
a company  of  tories  met  her  and  questioned  hei 
in  regard  lu  the  neighborhood  she  had  just  left; 
but  she  refused  to  communicate  the  desired  infor- 
mation. The  leader  of  the  band  then  held  a pistol 
to  her  breast,  and  threatened  to  shoot  her  if  she 
did  not  make  the  wished  for  disclosure.  “ Shoot  me 
if  you  dare ! I will  not  tell  you ! 55  was  her  daunt- 
less reply,  as  she  opened  a long  handkerchief  that 
covered  her  neck  and  bosom,  thus  manifesting  a 
willingness  to  receive  the  contents  of  the  pistol,  if 
the  officer  insisted  on  disclosures  or  life.  The  das- 
tard, enraged  at  her  defying  movement,  was  in  the 
act  of  firing,  at  which  moment  one  of  the  soldiers 
threw  up  the  hand  holding  the  weapon,  and  the 
cowerless  heart  of  the  girl  was  permitted  to  beat 
on. 

The  brothers  of  Dicey  were  no  less  patriotic  than 
she;  and  they  having,  by  their  active  services  ou 
the  side  of  freedom,  greatly  displeased  the  loyalists. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


127 


these  latter  were  determined  to  be  revenged.  A 
desperate  band  accordingly  went  to  the  house  of 
their  father,  and  finding  the  sons  absent,  they  were 
about  to  wreak  their  vengeance  on  the  old  man, 
whom  they  hated  for  the  sons’  sake.  With  this  in- 
tent one  of  the  party  drew  a pistol ; but  just  as  it 
was  aimed  at  the  breast  of  her  aged  and  infirm 
father.  Dicey  rushed  between  the  two,  and  though 
the  ruffian  bade  her  get  out  of  his  way  or  receive 
in  her  own  breast  the  contents  of  the  pistol,  she 
regarded  not  his  threats,  but  flung  her  arms  around 
her  father’s  neck  and  declared  she  would  receive 
the  ball  first,  if  the  weapon  must  be  discharged. 
Such  fearlessness  and  willingness  to  offer  her  own 
life  for  the  sake  of  her  parent,  softened  the  heart 
of  the  “ bloody  scout,”  and  Mr.  Langston  lived 
to  see  his  noble  daughter  perform  other  heroic 
deeds. 

One  time  her  brother  James,  in  his  absence,  sent 
to  the  house  for  a gun  which  he  had  left  in  her 
care,  with  orders  for  her  to  deliver  it  to  no  one 
except  by  his  direction.  On  reaching  the  house 
one  of  the  company  who  where  directed  to  call  for 
it,  made  known  their  errand,  whereupon  she  brought 
and  was  about  to  deliver  the  weapon.  At  this 
moment  it  occurred  to  her  that  she  had  not  deman- 
ded the  countersign  agreed  on  between  herself  and 
brother.  With  the  gun  still  in  her  hand,  she  looked 
the  company  sternly  in  the  face,  and  remarking  that 
they  wore  a suspicious  look,  called  for  the  coun- 
tersign. Hereupon  one  of  them,  in  jest,  told  her 


128 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


she  was  too  tardy  in  her  requirements ; that  both 
the  gnn  and  its  holder  were  in  their  possession. 
“ Do  yon  think  so,55  she  boldly  asked,  as  she 
cocked  the  dispnted  weapon  and  aimed  it  at  the 
speaker.  “If  the  gnn  is  in  yonr  possession,”  she 
added,  “ take  charge  of  it ! ” Her  appearance  indica- 
ted that  she  was  in  earnest,  and  the  countersign 
was  given  without  further  delay.  A hearty  laugh 
on  the  part  of  the  “liberty  men,”  ended  the  cere- 
mony. 


REBECCA  MOTTE. 


We  can  make  our  lives  sublime. 

Longfellow 

During  the  Revolutionary  war,  while  Fort  Motte, 
situated  on  Congaree  river,  in  South  Carolina,  was 
in  the  hands  of  the  British,  in  order  to  effect  its 
surrender,  it  became  necessary  to  burn  a large 
mansion  standing  near  the  centre  of  the  trench. 
The  house  was  the  property  of  Mrs.  Motte.  Lieut. 
Colonel  Lee  communicated  to  her  the  contemplated 
work  of  destruction  with  painful  reluctance,  but  her 
smiles,  half  anticipating  his  proposal,  showed,  at 
mce,  that  she  was  willing  to  sacrifice  her  property 
if  she  could  thereby  aid  in  the  least  degree  towards 
the  expulsion  of  the  enemy  and  the  salvation  of 
the  land.  The  reply  ^he  made  to  the  proposal  was 
that  she  was  “ gratified  with  the  opportunity  of 
contributing  to  the  good  of  her  country,  and  should 
view  the  approaching  scene  with  delight ! 55  * 

*Mrs.  Brewton,  — since  Foster  — one  of  the  most  amiable  and  en- 
lightened of  the  whig  ladies,  was  an  inmate  of  Mrs.  Matte's  family 
%t  the  time  of  the  destruction  of  her  house.  Meeting  with  her  shortly 
after  the  signing  of  the  preliminary  articles  of  peace  at  Philadelphia, 


130 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


The  husband  of  this  noble-hearted  widow  had  so 
involved  himself  by  securities  for  friends,  that  after 
the  struggle  for  Independence  was  over,  it  was 
impossible  for  her  to  immediately  meet  all  demands 
against  the  estate.  She,  however,  resolved  that 
they  should  some  day  be  liquidated  — that,  life 
and  health  being  continued  long  enough,  all  obliga- 
tions of  her  husband’s  contracting  should  be  good 
against  herself.  She  purchased  a large  tract  of  rice 
land  on  credit,  and  by  industry  and  economy  was 
able,  in  a short  time,  to  pay  the  old  demands,  and 
lived  to  accumulate  a handsome  property.  She  re- 
minds us  of  Solomon’s  picture  of  the  virtuous  wo- 
man : “ She  considereth  a field,  and  buyeth  it : with 
the  fruit  of  her  hands  she  planteth  a vineyard.’ 

, . . “ She  looketh  well  to  the  ways  of  hei 
household,  and  eateth  not  of  the  bread  of  idle- 
ness.” 


I inquired  — “ How  it  had  happened,  that  she,  a helpless,  unprotec- 
ted widow,  without  any  charge  of  improper  conduct,  haa  so  far 
incurred  the  enmity  of  the  British  commanders,  as  to  have  been  ar- 
rested without  ceremony,  and  hurried  unprepared,  into  exile.”  She 
answered  — “ That  she  knew  no  act  of  hers  which  had  merited  such 
ungentlemanly  and  inhuman  treatment.”  Entering,  however,  into 
conversation  relative  to  the  siege  and  surrender  of  Fort  Motte,  she' 
gave  at  once  a clue  to  the  transaction.  While  the  American  forces 
were  at  a distance,  Major  M’Pherson,  the  commander  of  the  post, 
suffered  Mrs.  Motte  and  her  family  to  remain,  and  an  apartment 
was  allowed  for  their  accommodation.  But  when  the  post  at  Thomp- 
son’s, but  a little  removed  from  him,  was  attacked  and  earned, 
anticipating  the  fate  which  awaited  him,  immediate  removal  was  not 
only  advised,  but  insisted  on.  At  the  moment  of  departure,  Mrs. 
Brewton  seeing  a quiver  of  arrows,  which  had  been  presented  to  Mr. 
Motte  by  a favorite  African,  said  to  her  friend,  “I  will  take  these 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


131 


with  me,  to  prevent  their  destruction  by  the  soldiers.* * With  the 
quiver  in  her  hands,  she  was  passing  the  gate,  when  Major  M’Pher- 
son,  drawing  forth  a shaft,  and  applying  the  point  to  his  finger, 
said,  “ what  have  you  here,  Mrs.  Brewton  ? **  “ For  God’s  sake  be 

careful,**  she  replied  “ these  arrows  are  poisoned.’*  The  ladies  imme- 
diately passed  on  to  the  out-liouse,  which  they  were  now  to  inhabit. 
In  the  siege  which  directly  followed,  when  the  destruction  of  the 
house  was  determined  upon,  and  missiles  eagerly  sought  for  by 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Lee  for  conveying  the  fire  to  the  shingles,  these 
arrows  being  remembered,  were  presented  by  Mrs.  Motte,  with  a 
wish  for  the  happy  accomplishment  of  the  end  proposed.  It  was 
afterwards  known,  that  the  first  arrow  missed  its  aim,  and  fell  at 
the  feet  of  the  commander,  who  taking,  it  up,  with  strong  expres- 
sions of  anger,  exclaimed,  “ I thank  you,  Mrs.  Brewton.”  The 
second  arrow  took  effect,  and  set  fire  to  the  roof,  when  the  brisk 
discharge  of  a six  pounder  being  maintained  by  Captain  Finley,  in 
the  direction  of  the  stair -case,  every  effort  to  extinguish  it  proved 
fruitless,  until,  from  the  apprehension  of  the  roof  falling  in,  the 
garrison  were  compelled  to  surrender  at  discretion.  General  Greene 
arriving  soon  after,  paid  to  Major  M’Pherson  the  tribute  of  applause 
due  to  his  excellent  defence,  declaring,  “ that  such  gallantry  could 
not  fail  to  procure  for  him  a high  increase  of  reputation.”  This 
compliment,  however,  does  not  appear  to  have  soothed  the  mortified 
soldier ; for,  walking  immediately  up  to  Mrs.  Brewton,  he  said,  “ to 
you  madam,  I owe  this  disgrace  ; it  would  have  been  more  chari- 
table to  have  allowed  me  to  perish  by  poison,  than  to  be  thus 
compelled  to  surrender  my  post  to  the  enemy.”  This  speech 
alone,  accounts  for  the  enmity  against  Mrs.  Brewton.  — [ Knapp’s 
American  Anecdotes. 


ANOTHER  SACRIFICE  FOR  FREEDOM. 


A patriot’s  birth-right  thou  may’st  claim. 

Shelley 

The  subject  of  the  following  anecdote  was  a sister 
of  General  Woodhull,  and  was  born  at  Brookhaven, 
Long  Island,  in  December,  1740.  Her  husband  was 
a member  of  the  Provincial  Convention  which  met  in 
May,  1775,  and  of  the  Convention  which  was  called 
two  years  after,  to  frame  the  first  state  constitution. 

While  Judge  William  Smith  was  in  the  Provincial 
Congress,  his  lady  was  met,  at  a place  called  Middle 
Island,  by  Major  Benjamin  Tallmadge,  who  was  then 
on  his  march  across  Long  Island.  He  told  her  he  was 
on  his  way  to  her  house  to  capture  the  force  then  pos- 
sessing Fort  St.  George,  and  that  he  might  be  obliged 
to  burn  or  otherwise  destroy  her  dwelling-house  and 
other  buddings  in  accomplishing  this  object.  Ready 
to  make  any  sacrifice  for  the  good  of  her  bleeding 
country,  she  promptly  assured  the  Major  that  the 
buildings  were  at  his  disposal,  to  destroy  or  * .*t,  as 
efforts  to  dislodge  the  enemy  might  require. 


A PATKIOTIC  DONATION. 


Large  charity  doth  never  soil, 

But  only  whitens  soft  white  hands.  — Lowell. 

When  General  Greene  was  retreating  through  the 
Carolinas,  after  the  battle  of  the  Cowpens,  and  while 
at  Salisbury,  North  Carolina,  he  put  up  at  a hotel,  the 
landlady  of  which  was  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Steele.  A de- 
tachment of  Americans  had  just  had  a skirmish  with 
the  British  under  Cornwallis  at  the  Catawba  ford,  and 
were  defeated  and  dispersed ; and  when  the  wounded 
were  brought  to  the  hotel,  the  General  no  doubt  felt 
somewhat  discouraged,  for  the  fate  of  the  south  and 
perhaps  of  the  country  seemed  to  hang  on  the  result 
of  this  memorable  retreat.  Added  to  his  other 
troubles  was  that  of  being  penniless  ; and  Mrs.  Steele, 
learning  this  fact  by  accident,  and  ready  to  do  any 
thing  in  her  power  to  further  the  cause  of  freedom, 
took  him  aside  and  drew  from  under  her  apron  two 
bags  of  specie.  Presenting  them  to  him  she  gene 
rously  said,  “ Take  these,  for  you  will  want  them,  and 
I can  do  without  them.”* 


* Never  did  relief  come  at  a more  propitious  moment;  nor  would  it 
be  straining  conjecture  to  suppose  that  he  resumed  his  journey  with  his 
spirits  cheered  and  brightened  by  this  touching  proof  of  woman’s  devo- 
tion to  the  cause  of  her  country.  [Greene’s  Life  of  Nathaniel  Greene. 


“THE  LITTLE  BLACK-EYED  REBEL.” 


Some  there  are 
By  their  good  deeds  exalted 


Wordsworth. 


Mary  Redmond,  the  daughter  of  a patriot  of  Phila- 
delphia  of  some  local  distinction,  had  many  relatives 
who  were  loyalists.  These  were  accustomed  to  call 
her  “ the  little  black-eyed  rebel,’1  so  ready  was  she  to 
assist  women  whose  husbands  were  fighting  for  free- 
dom, in  procuring  intelligence.  “ The  dispatches 
were  usually  sent  from  their  friends  by  a boy  who 
carried  them  stitched  in  the  back  of  his  coat.  He 
came  into  the  city  bringing  provisions  to  market. 
One  morning  when  there  was  some  reason  to  fear  he 
was  suspected,  and  his  movements  were  watched  by 
the  enemy,  Mary  undertook  to  get  the  papers  from 
him  in  safety.  She  went,  as  usual,  to  the  market,  and 
in  a pretended  game  of  romps,  threw  her  shawl  over 
the  boy’s  head  and  secured  the  prize.  She  hastened 
with  the  papers  to  her  anxious  friends,  who  read  them 
by  stealth,  after  the  windows  had  been  carefully 
closed.” 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


135 


When  the  whig  women  in  her  neighborhood  heard 
of  Burgoyne’s  surrender,  and  were  exulting  in  secret, 
the  cunning  little  “ rebel,”  prudently  refraining  from 
any  open  demonstration  of  joy,  “ put  her  head  up  the 
chimney  and  gave  a shout  for  Gates ! ” 


A BENEVOLENT  QUAKERESS  * 


How  few,  like  thee,  inquire  the  wretched  out, 

And  court  the  offices  of  soft  humanity  ! 

Rowe. 

Charity  Rodman  was  born  in  .Newport,  Rhode 
Island,  in  the  year  1765.  Her  father  was  a sea-cap- 
tain, and  died  at  Honduras  while  she  was  in  infancy. 
She  married  Thomas  Rotch,  of  Nantucket,  Massachu- 
setts, on  the  sixth  of  June,  1790.  Soon  afterwards 
the  Rotch  family  removed  to  New  Bedford,  where 
they  have  since  distinguished  themselves  by  their 
energy  and  uprightness  of  character,  and  their  success 
in  the  mercantile  business,  being  extensively  engaged 
in  the  whale-rishery.  Of  some  of  them,  as  traffickers, 
it  may  be  said,  as  it  was  of  the  merchants  of  Tyre  in 
the  days  of  her  glory : “ they  are  among  the  honor 
able  of  the  earth.55 

About  the  year  1801,  Mrs.  Rotch  removed  with  hei 
husband  to  Hartford,  Connecticut,  where  she  remained 

* Some  of  the  facts  embodied  in  this  article  were  gathered  by  the 
author  while  on  a visit  to  Massillon,  Ohio,  in  the  summer  of  1847,  and 
were  communicated  to  the  public  at  that  time  through  the  columns  ef 
the  Western  Literary  Messenger ; others  were  lately  and  very  obligingly 
furnished  by  Dr.  William  Bowen,  of  that  place. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


137 


till  1811.  She  then,  in  a feeble  state  of  health,  and 
for  its  improvement,  accompanied  her  husband  on  a 
journey  through  Ohio,  and  other  parts  of  the  West. 
The  mildness  of  the  winter  was  favorable  to  her  con- 
stitution, and,  restored  to  comfortable  health,  she 
returned  to  Hartford  in  the  early  part  of  the  next 
summer.  The  following  November  she  removed  to 
Kendol,  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  near  the  site  of  the 
present  village  of  Massillon. 

There  the  mind  of  Mrs.  Rotch,  cooperating  with  the 
long-cherished  wishes  of  her  heart,  originated  and 
matured  plans  for  the  establishment  of  a u school  for 
orphan  and  destitute  children.55  Having  traveled 
much,  she  had  made  extensive  observations ; and  with 
an  eye  always  open  to  the  condition  and  wants  of 
human  kind,  she  early  and  often  felt  the  force  of  a 
remark  once  made  to  her  by  an  English  friend : “ That 
there  were  a great  many  children  wasted  in  this  coun- 
try55— a painful  truth,  but  no  less  applicable  to  Great 
Britain  than  to  the  United  States. 

Her  husband  died  in  1823,  and  bequeathed  to  her, 
during  life,  his  large  and  entire  estate.  His  personal 
property  was  left  in  her  hands  to  be  disposed  of  as  her 
philanthropic  heart  might  dictate.  This  formed  the 
basis  of  the  school-fund  which  she  left,  and  which, 
four  or  five  years  after  her  death,  which  occurred  on 
the  sixth  of  August,  1824,  amounted  to  twenty  thorn 
sand  dollars.  The  interest  of  this  sum  has  since  pur- 
chased a farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  acres, 
one  and  a half  miles  from  the  village  of  Massillon,  and 
erected,  at  a cost  of  five  thousand  dollars,  a large 


138 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


brick  edifice  for  educational  and  dwelling  purposes, 
which  has  been  open  seven  years  and  which  sustains 
forty  pupils.  The  real  and  personal  estate  of  the  in- 
stitution, is  now  estimated  at  thirty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars. 

A class  of  ten  pupils  enter  annually  and  remain 
four  years.  The  school  is  established  on  the  manual 
labor  plan ; and  the  boys  are  thoroughly  instructed 
in  the  art  of  husbandry,  and  the  girls  in  culinary  du- 
ties and  the  manufacture  of  their  own  wearing  apparel. 
Children  enter  between  the  ages  of  ten  and  fourteen, 
hence  the  youngest  leave  as  advanced  in  life  as  their 
fifteenth  year,  a period  when  their  habits  of  industry 
and  their  moral  principles  usually  become  too  well 
established  to  be  easily  changed. 

This  school,  founded  by  the  benevolence  of  a single 
individual  — a devout,  yet  modest  and  quiet  member 
of  the  Society  of  Friends — is  destined  to  become  a 
source  of  inestimable  blessings.  Every  half  century, 
five  hundred  otherwise  neglected  plants  in  the  garden 
of  humanity,  will  there  be  pruned  and  nurtured,  and 
strengthened  for  the  storms  of  life ; and  many  of  them 
will  doubtless  be  fitted  to  bear  fruit  here  to  the  glory 
of  God,  and  be  finally  transplanted  to  bloom  in  eternal 
youth  in  the  gardens  above. 

The  offspring  of  Christian  philanthropy,  the  school 
will  stand  as  a lasting  memorial  of  woman’s  worth. 
The  highest  ambition  of  its  founder  was  to  be  a bles- 
sing to  those  who  should  come  after  her;  and  it  may 
be  said  that  while  she  did  not  live  in  vain,  neither  did 
she  die  in  vain.  Tier  death  threwT  a legacy  into  the ' 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


139 


lap  orphanage,  the  benignant  influence  of  which 
will  long  be  felt. 

The  grave  of  Mrs.  Rotch  is  overlooked  by  the  monu- 
ment of  her  munificence,  but  no  marble  nor  enduring 
object  marks  the  spot.  Virtues  like  hers  neither  crave 
nor  need  chiseled  words  of  praise ; they  are  engraved 
on  the  hearts  of  the  succored,  to  be  remembered  while 
those  hearts  continue  to  beat',  and  the  feet  of  be- 
friended children  will  keep  a path  open  to  the  grave 
of  their  foster-mother,  for  ages. 


A PIONEER  mST  SUNDAY  SCHOOLS  * 


— Doubtless  unto  thee  is  given 
A life  that  bears  immortal  fruit 
In  such  great  offices  as  suit 
The  full-grown  energies  of  heaven. 

Tennyson’s  In  Memoriam. 

The  Ohio  Company,  which  was  organized  in  Bos- 
ton in  the  year  1787,  built  a stockade  fort  during 
the  next  two  years,  at  Marietta,  and  named  it 
Campus  Martins . The  year  it  was  completed,  the 
Bev.  Daniel  Storey,  a preacher  at  Worcester,  Mas- 
sachusetts, was  sent  out  as  a chaplain.  He  acted  as 
an  evangelist  till  1797,  when  he  became  the  pastor 
of  a Congregational  church  which  he  had  been  in- 
strumental in  collecting  in  Marietta  and  the  adjoining 
towns,  and  which  was  organized  the  preceding  year. 
He  held  that  relation  till  the  spring  of  1804.  Pro- 
bably he  was  the  first  Protestant  minister  whose  voice 
was  heard  in  the-  vast  wilderness  lying  to  the  north- 
west of  the  Ohio  river. 

In  the  garrison  at  Marietta  was  witnessed  the 


* The  facts  contained  in  this  article  we  find  in  a series  of  papers, 
by  S.  P.  Hildreth,  Esq.,  published  in  " The  American  Pioneer,”  in 
1842. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


141 


formation  and  successful  operation  of  one  of  the 
first  Sunday  schools  in  the  United  States.  Its  ori- 
ginator, superintendent  and  sole  teacher,  was  Mrs. 
Andrew  Lake,  an  estimable  lady  from  New  York. 
Every  Sabbath,  after  “ Parson  Storey55  had  finished 
his  public  services,  she  collected  as  many  of  the 
children  at  her  house  as  would  attend,  and  heard 
them  recite  verses  from  the  Scriptures,  and  taught 
them  the  Westminster  catechism.  Simple  in  her 
manner  of  teaching  and  affable  and  kind  in  her 
disposition,  she  was  able  to  interest  her  pupils  — 
usually  about  twenty  in  number — and  to  win  their  af- 
fections to  herself,  to  the  school,  and,  subsequently, 
in  some  instances,  to  the  Saviour.  A few,  at  least, 
of  the  little  children  that  used  to  sit  on  rude 
benches,  low  stools  and  the  tops  of  meal  bags,  and 
listen  to  her  sacred  instructions  and  earnest  ad- 
monitions, have  doubtless  ere  this  became  pupils, 
with  her,  in  the  “ school  of  Christ55  above. 


THE  WOMEN  OF  WYOMING. 


The  guardians  of  the  land. 

Holmes. 

Justice  and  gratitude,  writes  Miner,45,  “demand 
a tribute  to  the  praiseworthy  spirit  of  the  wives  and 
daughters  of  Wyoming.  While  their  husbands  and 
fathers  were  on  public  duty,  they  cheerfully  assumed 
a large  portion  of  the  labor  which  females  .could 
do.  They  assisted  to  plant,  made  hay,  husked  and 
garnered  the  corn.  As  the  settlement  was  mainly 
dependent  on  its  own  resources  for  powder,  Mr. 
Hollenback  caused  to  be  brought  up  the  river  a 
pounder;  and  the  women  took  up  their  floors,  dug 
out  the  earth,  put  it  in  casks,  and  run  water  through 
it,  — as  ashes  are  bleached  : — then  took  ashes,  in 
another  cask,  and  ipade  ley — mixed  the  water  from 
the  earth  with  weak  ley,  boiled  it,  set  it  to  cool, 
and  the  saltpetre  rose  to  the  top.  Charcoal  and 
sulphur  were  then  used,  and  powder  was  produced 
for  the  public  defence.55 


History  of  Wyoming,  page  212. 


MARY  GOULD. 


Far  rung  the  groves  and  gleamed  the  midnight  grass, 
With  flambeau,  javelin  and  naked  arm; 

As  warriors  wheeled  their  culverins  of  brass, 

Sprung  from  the  woods  a bold  athletic  mass, 

Whom  virtue  fires  and  liberty  combines. 

Campbell. 


Such  is  the  power  of  mighty  love. 

Dryden. 

Early  in  the  evening  of  the  third  day  of  July, 
1778 — the  date  of  the  memorable  Wyoming  mas- 
sacre— Mrs.  Mary  Gould,  wife  of  James  Gould, 
with  the  other  females  remaining  in  the  village  of 
Wyoming,  sought  safety  in  the  fort.  In  the  haste 
and  confusion  attending  this  act,  she  left  a boy  of 
hers  about  four  years  old,  behind.  Obeying  the  in- 
stincts of  a mother,  and  turning  a deaf  ear  to  the 
admonitions  of  friends,  she  started  off  on  a perilous 
search  for  the  missing  one.  It  was  dark;  she  was 
alone,  and  the  foe  was  lurking  around ; but  the 
agonies  of  death  could  not  exceed  her  agonies  of 
suspense;  so  she  hastened  on.  She  traversed  the 
fields  which,  but  a few  hours  before, 

“Were  trampled  by  tbe  hurrying  crowd;” 

where 


144 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


“ — fiery  hearts  and  armed  hands 
Encountered  in  the  battle  cloud/ * 

and  where  unarmed  hands  were  now  resting  on  cold 
and  motionless  hearts.  After  a search  of  between 
one  and  two  hours,  she  found  her  child  on  the 
bank  of  the  river,  sporting  with  a little  band  of 
piaymates.  Clasping  the  jewel  in  her  arms,  she 
hurried  back  and  reached  the  fort  in  safety. 


THE  MOTHER  OF  PRESIDENT  POLK. 


Holy  as  heaven  a mother's  tender  love! 

The  love  of  many  prayers,  and  many  tears, 

WTiich  changes  not  with  dim,  declining  years. 

Mrs.  Norton. 

The  late  President  Polk’s  mother,  who  died  at 
Columbia,  Tennessee,  in  the  winter  of  1851-2,  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  a highly  exem- 
plary Christian,  and  a faithful  mother.  The  lessons 
which  she  taught  her  son  in  youth,  were  not  forgotten 
when  he  had  arrived  at  manhood,  and  risen  to  the 
highest  office  in  the  gift  of  a free  and  sovereign  people. 
A single  anecdote  will  show  the  abiding  recollection 
and  influence  of  her  teachings. 

A gentleman,  who  once  visited  Mr.  Polk  at  the 
White  Hous*\  remarked  to  him  that  his  respect  for 
the  Sabbath  was  highly  gratifying  to  the  religious 
sentiment  of  the  country ; whereupon  he  made  the  fol- 
lowing  reply:  “I  was  taught  by  a pious  mother  to 
fear  God,  and  keep  his  commandments,  and  I trust 
that  no  cares  of  a government  of  my  own,  will  ever 
tempt  me  to  forget  what  I owe  to  the  government 
of  God.” 


TRIALS  OF  A PATRIOT 


Press  on!  if  fortune  play  thee  false 
Trwlay,  to-morrow  she  ’ll  be  true. 

Park  Benjamin 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  Revolution,  Thomas 
McCalla  lived  in  Chester  district,  South  Carolina, 
lie  removed  thither  from  Pennsylvania,  with  his 
young  wife,  in  1778.  He  was  a whole-hearted  whig; 
served  in  the  American  army  before  moving  to  the 
south,  and  again  enlisted  soon  after  reaching  his  new 
home.  He  was  in  all  the  engagements  attending 
Sumter’s  operations  against  the  enemy,  till  the  seven- 
teenth of  August,  1780,  when,  by  permission,  he  went 
to  visit  his  family.  A short  time  afterwards  he  again 
joined  the  fighting  men,  but  was  almost  immediately 
taken  prisoner,  sent  to  Camden,  thrown  into  jail  and 
threatened  daily  with  hanging.  The  persevering  and 
heroic  endeavors  of  his  affectionate  and  patriotic  wife, 
to  obtain  his  release,  are  detailed  in  the  following  inte- 
resting manner  by  the  author  of  the  Women  of  the 
Revolution : 

While  this  brave  man  was  languishing  in  prison, 
expecting  death  from  day  to  day,  his  wife  remained 
in  the  most  unhappy  state  of  suspense.  For  about  a 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


147 


month  she  was  unable  to  obtain  any  tidings  of  him. 
The  rumor  of  Sumter’s  surprise,  and  that  of  Steel, 
came  to  her  ears ; she  visited  the  places  where  those 
disasters  had  occurred,  and  sought  for  some  trace  of 
him,  but  without  success.  She  inquired,  in  an  agony 
of  anxiety,  of  the  women  who  had  been  to  Charlotte 
for  the  purpose  of  carrying  clothes  or  provisions  to 
their  husbands,  brothers,  or  fathers,  not  knowing  but 
that  he  had  gone  thither  with  the  soldiers ; but  none 
could  give  her  the  least  information.  Imagination 
may  depict  the  harrowing  scenes  that  must  have 
passed,  when  females  returning  to  their  homes  and 
children  after  carrying  aid  to  the  soldiers,  were  met  by 
such  inquiries  from  those  who  were  uncertain  as  to 
the  fate  of  their  kindred.  To  these  hapless  sufferers 
no  consolation  availed,  and  too  often  was  their  sus- 
pense terminated  by  more  afflicting  certainty. 

In  the  midst  of  Mrs.  McCalla’s  distress,  and  before 
she  had  gained  any  information,  she  was  called  to 
another  claim  on  her  anxiety ; her  children  took  the 
small-pox.  John  was  very  ill  for  nine  days  with  the 
disease,  and  his  mother  thought  every  day  would  be 
his  last.  During  this  terrible  season  of  alarm,  while 
her  mind  was  distracted  by  cares,  she  had  to  depend 
altogether  upon  herself,  for  she  saw  but  one  among  her 
neighbors.  All  the  families  in  the  vicinity  were  visited 
with  the  disease,  and  to  many  it  proved  fatal.  As 
soon  as  her  child  was  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  consi- 
dered out  of  danger,  Mrs.  McCalla  made  preparations 
to  go  to  Camden.  She  felt  cpnvinced  that  it  was  her 
duty  to  do  so,  for  she  clung  to  the  hope  that  she  might 


148 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


there  learn  something  of  her  husband,  or  even  find 
him  among  the  prisoners. 

With  her  to  resolve  was  to  act,  and  having  set  her 
house  in  order,  she  was  in  the  saddle  long  before  day, 
taking  the  old  Charleston  road  leading  down  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Catawba  river.  The  mountain  gaj] 
on  Wateree  creek  was  passed  ere  the  sun  rose,  and  by 
two  o’clock  she  had  crossed  the  river,  passing  the 
guard  there  stationed,  and  entered  Camden.  Pressing 
on  with  fearless  determination,  she  passed  the  guard, 
and  desiring  to  be  conducted  to  the  presence  of  Lord 
Pawdon,  was  escorted  by  Major  Doyle  to  the  head- 
quarters of  that  commander.  His  Lordship  then 
occupied  a large,  ancient  looking  house  on  the  east 
side  of  the  main  street.  The  old  site  of  the  town  is 
now  in  part  deserted,  and  that  building  left  standing 
alone  some  four  hundred  yards  from  any  other,  as  if 
the  memories  associated  with  it  had  rendered  the 
neighborhood  undesirable.  It  was  here  that  haughty 
and  luxurious  nobleman  fixed  his  temporary  residence, 
u sitting  as  a monarch,”  while  so  many  true-hearted 
unfortunates,  whose  fate  hung  on  his  will,  were  lan- 
guishing out  their  lives  in  prison,  or  atoning  for  their 
patriotism  on  the  scatfold. 

Into  the  presence  of  this  august  personage  Mrs. 
McCalla  was  conducted  by  the  British  major.  Her 
impression  at  first  sight  was  favorable ; he  was  a fine 
looking  young  man,  with  a countenance  not  unprepos- 
sessing, which  we  may  suppose  was  eagerly  searched 
for  the  traces  of  human  sympathy  by  one  who  felt  that 
all  her  hopes  depended  on  him.  His  aspect  gave  her 


OF  AMERICAN  W OMEN. 


149 


some  encouragement,  and  being  desired  to  explain  the 
object  of  her  visit,  she  pleaded  her  cause  with  the  elo- 
quence of  nature  and  feeling ; making  known  the  dis- 
tressed situation  of  her  family  at  home,  the  fearful 
anxiety  of  mind  she  had  suffered  on  account  of  the 
prolonged  absence  of  her  husband  and  her  ignorance 
of  his  fate,  and  her  children’s  urgent  need  of  his  care 
and  protection.  From  Major  Doyle  she  had  at  length 
learned  that  he  was  held  a prisoner  by  his  lordship’s 
orders.  She  had  come,  therefore,  to  entreat  mercy  for 
him ; to  pray  that  he  might  be  released  and  permitted 
to  go  home  with  her.  This  appeal  to  compassion  she 
made  with  all  the  address  in  her  power,  nor  was  the 
untaught  language  of  distress  wanting  in  power  to 
excite  pity  in  any  feeling  heart. 

Lord  Rawdon  heard  her  to  the  end.  Ilis  reply  was 

characteristic.  “ I would  rather  hang  such rebels 

than  eat  my  breakfast.”  This  insulting  speech  was 
addressed  to  his  suppliant  while  her  eyes  were  fixed 
on  him  in  the  agony  of  her  entreaty,  and  the  tears 
were  streaming  down  her  cheeks.  Hie  words  dried 
up  the  fountain  at  once,  and  the  spirit  of  the  American 
matron  was  roused.  “ Would  you?”  was  her  answer, 
while  she  turned  on  him  a look  of  the  deepest  scorn 
A moment  after,  with  a struggle  to  control  her  feelings, 
for  she  well  knew  how  much  depended  on  that- — she 
said,  “ 1 crave  of  your  lordship  permission  to  see  my 
husband.” 

The  haughty  chief  felt  the  look  of  scorn  his  cruel 
language  had  called  up  in  her  face,  for  his  own  con- 
science bore  testimony  against  him,  but  pride  forbade 


150 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


his  yielding  to  the  dictates  of  better  feeling.  “ Y on 
should  consider,  madam,”  he  answered,  “in  whose 
presence  you  now  stand.  Your  husband  is  a rebel ” 

Mrs.  McCalla  was  about  to  reply  — but  her  com- 
panion, the  Major,  gave  her  a look  warning  her  to  be 
silent,  and  in  truth  the  words  that  sprang  to  her  lips 
would  have  ill  pleased  the  Briton.  Doyle  now  inter- 
posed, and  requested  his  lordship  to  step  aside  with 
him  for  a moment.  They  left  the  apartment,  and 
shortly  afterwards  returned.  Bawd  on  then  said  to  his 
visitor,  with  a stately  coldness  that  precluded  all  hope 
of  softening  his  determination : “ Major  Doyle,  madam, 
has  my  permission  to  let  you  go  into  the  prison.  You 
may  continue  in  the  prison  ten  minutes  only . Major, 
you  have  my  orders.”  So  saying,  he  bowed  politely 
both  to  her  and  the  officer,  as  intimating  that  the 
business  was  ended,  and  they  were  dismissed.  They 
accordingly  quitted  the  room.  .... 

The  sight  of  the  prison-pen  almost  overcame  the 
fortitude  of  the  resolute  wdfe.  An  enclosure  like  that 
constructed  for  animals,  guarded  by  soldiers,  was  the 
habitation  of  the  unfortunate  prisoners,  wdio  sate 
within  on  the  bare  earth,  many  of  them  suffering  with 
the  prevalent  distemper,  and  stretched  helpless  on  the 
ground,  with  no  shelter  from  the  burning  sun  of  Sep- 
tember. “ Is  it  possible,”  cried  the  matron,  turning 
to  Doyle,  “ that  you  shut  up  men  in  this  manner,  as 
you  would  a parcel  of  hogs  !”  She  was  then  admitted 
into  the  jail,  and  welcome  indeed  was  the  sight  of  her 
familiar  face  to  McCalla.  The  time  allotted  for  the 
interview  was  too  short  to  be  wasted  in  condolement 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


151 


or  complaint ; she  told  him  she  must  depart  in  a few 
minutes,  informed  him  of  the  state  of  his  family  — 
inquired  carefully  what  were  his  wants,  and  promised 
speedy  relief.  When  the  ten  minutes  had  expired, 
she  again  shook  hands  with  him,  assuring  him  she 
would  shortly  return  with  clothes  for  his  use,  and 
what  provisions  she  could  bring,  then  turning  walked 
away  with  a firm  step,  stopping  to  shake  hands  with 
young  John  Adair  and  the  other  captives  with  whom 
she  was  acquainted.  The  word  of  encouragement  was 
not  wanting,  and  as  she  bade  the  prisoners  adieu,  she 
said:  “ Have  no  fear ; the  women  are  doing  their 
part  of  the  service.55  “ I admire  your  spirit,  madam,55 
Doyle  observed  to  her,  “ but  must  request  you  to  be  a 
little  more  cautious.55 

Mrs.  McCalla  was  furnished  by  the  Major  with  a 
pass,  which  she  showed  to  the  officer  on  duty  as  she 
passed  the  guard  on  her  return,  and  to  the  officer  at 
the  ferry.  She  rode  with  all  speed,  and  was  at  home 
before  midnight;  having  had  less  than  twenty-four 
hours  for  the  accomplishment  of  her  whole  enterprise; 
in  that  time  riding  one  hundred  miles,  crossing  the 
river  twice,  and  passing  the  guard  four  times  — visit- 
ing her  husband,  and  having  the  interview  with  Lord 
tiawdon,  in  which  probably  for  the  first  time  in  his 
ife  he  felt  uneasiness  from  a woman’s  rebuke.  It 
convinced  him  that  even  in  the  breast  of  woman  a 
spirit  of  independence  might  dwell,  which  no  oppres- 
sion could  subdue,  and  before  which  brute  force  must 
quail,  as  something  of  superior  nature.  How  must 
the  unexpected  outbreaking  of  this  spirit,  from  time 


152 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


to  time,  have  dismayed  those  who  imagined  it  was 
crushed  forever  throughout  the  conquered  province ! 

It  is  proper  to  say  that  Mrs.  McCalla  met  with 
kinder  treatment  from  the  other  British  officers  to 
whom  she  had  occasion  to  apply  at  this  time,  for 
they  were  favorably  impressed  by  the  courage  and 
strength  of  affection  evinced  by  her.  Even  the  sol- 
diers, as  she  passed  them,  paid  her  marks  of  respect. 
The  tories  alone  showed  no  sympathy  nor  pity  for 
her  trials  ; it  being  constantly  observed  that  there 
was  deeper  hostility  towards  the  whigs  on  the  part 
of  their  countrymen  of  different  politics,  than  those 
of  English  birth. 

Mrs.  McCalla  began  her  work  immediately  after 
her  arrival  at  home;  making  new  clothes,  altering 
and  mending  others,  and  preparing  provisions.  Her 
preparations  being  completed,  she  again  set  out  for 
Camden.  This  time  she  had  the  company  of  one  of 
her  neighbors,  Mrs.  Mary  Nixon.  Each  of  the  wo 
men  drove  before  her  a pack-horse,  laden  with  the 
articles  provided  for  the  use  of  their  suffering  friends. 
They  were  again  admitted  to  the  presence  of  Lord 
Bawdon  to  petition  for  leave  to  visit  the  prisoners,  but 
nothing  particular  occurred  at  the  interview.  His 
lordship  treated  the  matron  who  had  offended  him  with 
much  haughtiness,  and  she  on  her  part  felt  for  him 
a contempt  not  the  less  strong  that  it  was  not  openly 
expressed.  From  this  time  she  made  her  journeys 
about  once  a month  to  Camden,  carrying  clean  clothes 
and  provisions;  being  often  accompanied  by  other 
women  bound  on  similar  errands,  and  conveying  arti- 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


153 


cles  of  food  and  clothing  to  their  captive  fathers,  hus- 
bands, or  brothers.  They  rode  without  escort,  fearless 
of  peril  by  the  way,  and  regardless  of  fatigue,  though 
the  journey  was  usually  performed  in  haste,  and  un- 
der the  pressure  of  anxiety  for  those  at  home  as  well 
as  those  to  whose  relief  they  were  going.  On  one 
occasion,  when  Mrs.  McCalla  was  just  about  setting 
off  alone  upon  her  journey,  news  of  a glorious  event 
was  brought  to  her ; the  news  of  the  battle  of  King’s 
Mountain,  which  took  place  on  the  seventh  of  October. 
She  did  not  stop  to  rejoice  in  the  victory  of  her  coun- 
trymen, but  went  on  with  a lightened  heart,  longing, 
no  doubt,  to  share  the  joy  with  him  who  might  hope, 
from  the  changed  aspect  of  affairs,  some  mitigation 
of  his  imprisonment. 

. . . About  the  first  of  December,  Mrs.  McCalla 

went  again  to  Camden.  On  the  preceding  trip  she 
had  met  with  Lord  Cornwallis,  by  whom  she  was 
treated  with  kindness.  Whatever  hopes  she  had 
grounded  on  this,  however,  were  doomed  to  disap- 
pointment ; he  was  this  time  reserved  and  silent.  She 
was  afterwards  informed  by  the  Major  that  a consid- 
erable reverse  had  befallen  his  majesty’s  troops  at 
Clermont,  and  the  annoyance  felt  on  this  account  — 
Doyle  said — was  the  cause  of  his  not  showing  as 
much  courtesy  as  he  usually  did  to  ladies.  “ You 
must  excuse  him,”  observed  the  good-natured  officer, 
who  seems  to  have  always  acted  the  part  of  a peace- 
maker on  these  occasions;  and  he  added  that  Corn- 
wallis had  never  approved  of  the  cruelties  heretofore 
practised. 


54 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


Towards  the  last  of  December  the  indefatigable 
wife  again  performed  the  weary  journey  to  Camden. 
McCalla’s  health  had  been  impaired  for  some  months, 
and  was  now  declining ; it  was  therefore  necessary 
to  make  a strenuous  effort  to  move  the  compassion  of 
his  enemies,  and  procure  his  release.  Rawdon  was 
in  command,  and  she  once  more  applied  to  him 
to  obtain  permission  for  her  husband  to  go  home  with 
her.  As  might  have  been  anticipated,  her  petition 
was  refused  : his  lordship  informed  her  that  he  could 
do  nothing  in  the  premises ; but  that  if  she  would  go 
to  Winnsboro’  and  present  her  request  to  Lord  Corn- 
wallis, he  might  possibly  be  induced  to  give  her  an 
order  for  the  liberation  of  the  prisoner. 

To  Winnsboro’,  accordingly,  she  made  her  way, 
determined  to  lose  no  time  in  presenting  her  applica- 
tion. It  was  on  New  Year’s  morning  that  she  entered 
the  village.  The  troops  were  under  parade,  and  his 
lordship  was  engaged  in  reviewing  them ; there  could 
be  no  admission,  therefore,  to  his  presence  for  some 
time,  and  she  had  nothing  to  do  but  remain  a silent 
spectator  of  the  imposing  scene.  A woman  less 
energetic,  and  less  desirous  of  improving  every  oppor- 
tunity for  the  good  of  others,  might  have  sought  rest 
after  the  fatigues  of  her  journey,  during  the  hours 
her  business  had  to  wait ; Sarah  McCalla  was  one  of 
heroic  stamp,  whose  private  troubles  never  caused  her 
to  forget  what  she  might  do  for  her  country.  She 
passed  the  time  in  noticing  particularly  every  thing 
she  saw,  not  knowing  but  that  her  report  might  do 
service.  After  the  lapse  of  several  hours,  the  inter- 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


155 


view  she  craved  with  Cornwallis  was  granted.  He  re- 
ceived her  with  courtesy  and  kindness,  listened  atten- 
tively to  all  she  had  to  say,  and  appeared  to  feel  pity 
for  her  distresses.  But  his  polished  expression  of 
sympathy,  to  which  her  hopes  clung  with  desperation, 
was  accompanied  with  regret  that  he  could  not,  con- 
sistently with  the  duties  of  his  Majesty’s  service, 
comply  unconditionally  with  her  request.  He  ex- 
pressed, nevertheless,  entire  willingness  to  enter  into 
an  exchange  with  General  Sumter,  releasing  McCall  a 
for  any  prisoner  he  had  in  his  possession.  Or  he 
would  accept  the  pledge  of  General  Sumter  that  Mc- 
Calla  should  not  again  serve  until  exchanged,  and 
wrould  liberate  him  on  that  security.  “But,  mad 
am,”  he  added,  “ it  is  Sumter  himself  who  must 
stand  pledged  for  the  keeping  of  the  parole.  We 
have  been  too  lenient  heretofore,  and  have  let  men 
go  who  immediately  made  use  of  their  liberty  to 
take  up  arms  against  us.” 

With  this  the  long-tried  wife  was  forced  to  be 
content,  and  she  now  saw  the  way  clear  to  the  ac- 
complishment of  her  enterprise.  She  lost  no  time  in 
returning  home,  and  immediately  set  out  for  Char- 
lotte to  seek  aid  from  the  American  general.  She 
found  Sumter  at  this  place,  nearly  recovered  of  the 
wounds  he  had  received  in  the  action  at  Black- 
stock’s,  in  November.  Her  appeal  to  him  was  at 
once  favorably  received.  He  gave  her  a few  lines, 
stating  that  he  would  stand  pledged  for  McCalla’s 
continuance  at  home  peaceably  until  he  should  be 
regularly  exchanged.  This  paper  was  more  precious 


156 


NOBLE  ‘DEEDS 


than  gold  to  the  matron  whose  perseverance  had 
obtained  it;  but  it  was  destined  to  do  her  little 
good.  She  now  made  the  best  of  her  way  home- 
ward. After  crossing  the  Catawba,  she  encountered 
the  army  of  General  Morgan,  was  stopped,  being  sus- 
pected" to  be  a tory,  and  taken  into  his  presence 
for  examination.  The  idea  that  she  could  be  thus 
suspected  afforded  her  no  little  amusement,  and 
she  permitted  the  mistake  to  continue  for  some 
time,  before  she  produced  the  paper  in  Sumter’s 
hand-writing  which  she  well  knew  would  remove 
every  difficulty.  She  then  informed  the  General  of 
her  visit  to  Winnsboro’  on  the  first  of  January, 
and  her  sight  of  the  review  of  the  troops.  Mor- 
gan thanked  her  for  the  information  and  dismissed 
her,  and  without  farther  adventure  she  arrived  at 
her  own  house. 

A few  days  after  her  return,  the  British  army, 
beiag  on  its  march  from  Winnsboro’,  encamped  on 
the  plantation  of  John  Service,  in  Chester  district, 
and*  afterwards  at  Turkey  creek.  Mrs.  McCalla 
went  to  one  of  those  camps  in  the  hope  of  seeing 
Lord  Cornwallis.  She  succeeded  in  obtaining  this 
privilege;  his  lordship  recognised  her  as  soon  as 
she  entered  the  camp,  and  greeted  her  courteously, 
questioning  her  as  to  her  movements,  and  making 
many  inquiries  abDut  Sumter  and  Morgan.  On  this 
last  point  she  was  on  her  guard,  communicating  no 
more  information  than  she  felt  certain  could  give 
the  enemy  no  manner  of  advantage,  nor  subject 
her  friends  to  inconvenience  At  length  .she  pre- 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


157 


sented  to  the  noble  Briton  the  paper  which  she 
imagined  would  secure  her  husband’s  freedom. 
What  was  her  disappointment  when  he  referred  her 
to  Lord  Rawdon,  as  the  proper  person  to  take  cog- 
nizance of  the  affair!  The  very  name  was  a death- 
blow to  her  hopes,  for  she  well  knew  she  could 
expect  nothing  from  his  clemency.  Remonstrance 
and  entreaty  were  alike  in  vain  ; Cornwallis  was  a 
courteous  man,  but  he  knew  how,  with  a bland  smile 
and  well-turned"' phrase  of  compliment,  to  refuse  com- 
pliance even  with  a request  that  appealed  so  strongly 
to  every  feeling  of  humanity,  as  that  of  an  anxious 
wife  pleading  for  the  suffering  and  imprisoned  father 
of  her  children.  She  must  submit,  however,  to  the 
will  of  those  in  power ; there  was  no  resource  but 
another  journey  to  Camden,  in  worse  than  doubt 
of  the  success  she  had  fancied  just  within  her  reach 
It  was  a day  or  two  after  the  battle  of  the  Cow- 
pens  that  she  crossed  the  ferry  on  her  way  to 
Camden.  She  had  not  yet  heard  of  that  bloody 
action,  but,  observing  that  the  guard  was  doubled  at 
the  ferry,  concluded  that  something  unusual  had  oc- 
curred. As  she  entered  the  village,  she  met  her 
old  friend  Major  Doyle,  who  stopped  to  speak  to 
her.  His  first  inquiry  was  if  she  had  heard  the 
news ; and  when  she  answered  in  the  negative, 
he  told  her  of  the  “ melancholy  affair”  that  had 
occurred  at  the  Cowpens.  The  time,  he  observed, 
was  most  inauspicious  for  the  business  on  which  he 
knew  she  had  come.  “I  fear,  madam,”  he  said, 
that  his  lordship  will  not  treat  you  well.” 


158 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


“ I have  no  hope,”  was  her  answer,  “ that  he  will 
let  Thomas  go  home ; but,  sir,  it  is  my  duty  to 
make  efforts  to  save  my  husband.  I will  thank  you 
to  go  with  me  to  Lord  Rawdon’s  quarters.” 

Her  reception  was  such  as  she  had  expected. 
As  soon  as  Rawdon  saw  her,  he  cried  angrily,  “ You 
here  again,  madam!  Well  — you  want  your  hus- 
band— I dare  say!  Do  you  not  know  what  the 

rebels  have  been  doing  ? ” 

“ I do  not,  sir,”  replied  the  dejected  matron,  foi 
she  saw  that  his  mood  was  one  of  fury. 

“ If  we  had  hung  them,”  he  continued,  “ we  should 
have  been  saved  this.  Madam  ! I order  you  most 
positively  never  to  come  into  my  presence  again ! ” 
It  was  useless,  Mrs.  McCalla  knew,  to  attempt 
to  stem  the  tide ; she  did  not  therefore  produce, 
nor  even  mention  the  paper  given  her  by  Sumter, 
nor  apologise  for  the  intrusion  by  saying  that  Lord 
Cornwallis  had  directed  her  to  apply  to  him ; but 
merely  answered  in  a subdued  and  respectful  tone 
by  asking  what  she  had  done. 

“Enough!”  exclaimed  the  irritated  noble.  uYou 
g^  from  one  army  to  another,  and  Heaven  only 
knows  what  mischief  you  do!  Begone.” 

She  waited  for  no  second  dismissal,  but  could  not 
refrain  from  saying,  as  she  went  out,  in  an  audible 
voice,  “ My  countrymen  must  right  me.”  Lord 
Rawdon  called  her  back  and  demanded  what  she 
was  saying.  She  had  learned  by  this  time  some 
lessons  in  policy,  and  answered,  with  a smile,  “We 
are  but  simple  country  folk.”  His  lordship  proba* 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


159 


bly  saw  through  the  deceit,  for  turning  to  his  officer, 
he  said,  “Upon  my  life,  Doyle,  she  is  a wretch  of  a 
woman!”  And  thus  she  left  him. 

That  great  event  — the  battle  of  the  Cowpens — 
revived  the  spirits  of  the  patriots  throughout  the 
country.  Every  where,  as  the  news  spread,  men  who 
had  before  been  discouraged  flew  to  arms.  The  ac- 
tion took  place  on  the  seventeenth  of  January, 
1781 ; on  the  twenty-second  of  the  same  month,  six 
wagons  were  loaded  with  corn  at  Wade’s  island, 
sixty  miles  down  the  Catawba  for  the  use  of  Gen 
eral  Davison’s  division.  The  whole  whig  country 
of  Chester,  York  and  Lancaster  may  be  said  to 
have  risen  in  mass,  and  was  rallying  to  arms. 
Mecklenburg,  North  Carolina,  was  again  the  scene 
of  warlike  preparation;  for  the  whigs  hoped  to  give 
the  enemy  another  defeat  at  Cowans  or  Batisford 
on  the  Catawba.  On  the  twenty-fourth  of  January, 
General  Sumter  crossed  tnis  river  at  Landsford,  and 
received  a supply  of  corn  from  Wade’s  island, 
His  object  was  to  cross  the  districts  to  the  west, 
in  the  rear  of  the  advancing  British  army,  to 
arouse  the  country  and  gather  forces  as  he  went, 
threaten  the  English  posts  at  Ninety-Six  and  Granby, 
and  go  on  to  recover  the  State.  While  Cornwallis 
marched  from  his  encampment  on  Service’s  plan- 
tation, the  whigs  of  Chester,  under  the  gallant 
Captains  John  Mills  and  James  Johnston,  were 
hovering  near,  watching  the  movements  of  the  hostile 
army  as  keenly  as  the  eagle  watches  his  intended 
prey.  Choosing  a fit  opportunity,  as  they  followed 


160 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


in  th3  rear,  they  pounced  upon  a couple  of  British 
officers,  one  of  whom  was  Major  McCarter,  at  a 
moment  when  they  had  not  the  least  suspicion  of 
danger,  took  them  prisoners  in  sight  of  the  enemy, 
and  made  good  their  retreat.  By  means  of  this 
hold  exploit  the  liberation  of  McCalla  was  brought 
about,  at  a time  when  his  wife  was  wholly  dis- 
heartened by  her  repeated  and  grievous  disap- 
pointments. When  General  Sumter  passed  through 
the  country,  a cartel  of  exchange  was  effected, 
giving  the  two  British  officers  in  exchange  for  the 
prisoners  of  Chester  district  in  Camden  and  Charles- 
ton. 

The  person  sent  with  the  flag  to  accomplish  this 
exchange  in  Camden,  was  Samuel  Neely  of  Fishing 
creek.  As  he  passed  through  the  town  to  the  quar- 
ters  of  Lord  Rawdon,  he  was  seen  and  recognized 
by  the  prisoners,  and  it  may  be  supposed  their 
hearts  beat  with  joy  at  the  prospect  of  speedy  re- 
lease. But  in  consequence  of  some  mismanagement 
of  the  business,  the  unfortunate  men  were  detained 
in  jail  several  weeks  longer.  Neely  was  in  haste 
to  proceed  to  Charleston,  being  anxious,  in  the 
accomplishment  of  his  mission  in  that  city,  to  get 
his  son  Thomas  out  of  the  prison-ship,  and  in  bis 
hurry  probably  neglected  some  necessary  formalities. 
His  countrymen  in  Camden  were  kept  in  confine- 
ment after  his  return  from  Charleston  with  his  son. 
Captain  Mills  was  informed  of  this,  and  indignant 
at  the  supposed  disrespect  shown  by  Lord  Rawdon 
to  the  cartel  of  General  Sumter,  wrote  a letter  of 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


161 


remonstrance  to  Rawdon,  which  he  entrusted  to  Mrs. 
McCaila  to  be  conveyed  to  him. 

Our  heroine  was  accompanied  on  this  journey  by 
Mrs.  Mary  Dixon,  for  she  judged  it  impolitic  that 
the  letter  should  be  delivered  by  one  so  obnoxious 
to  his  lordship  as  herself.  Still  she  deemed  it  hei 
duty  to  be  on  the  spot  to  welcome  her  liberated 
husband,  supply  all  his  wants,  and  conduct  him 
home.  The  distance  was  traversed  this  time  with 
lighter  heart  than  before,  for  now  she  had  no  reason 
to  fear  disappointment.  When  they  arrived  at  Cam- 
den, they  went  to  the  jail.  John  Adair  was  standing 
at  a window;  they  saw  and  greeted  each  other,  the 
women  standing  in  the  yard  below.  Perhaps  in 
consequence  of  his  advice,  or  prudential  considera- 
tions on  their  part,  they  determined  not  to  avail 
themselves  of  the  good  offices  of  Major  Doyle  on 
this  occasion.  Adair  directed  them  to  send  the 
jailor  up  to  • him,  and  wrote  a note  introducing  his 
sister  to  the  acquaintance  of  Lord  Rawdon.  The 
two  women  then  proceeded  to  the  quarters  of  that 
nobleman.  When  they  arrived  at  the  gate,  Mrs. 
McCaila  stopped,  saying  she  would  wait  there,  and 
her  companion  proceeded  by  herself.  She  was  ad- 
mitted into  the  presence  of  Lord  Rawdon,  who  read 
the  note  of  introduction  she  handed  to  him,  and 
observed,  referring  to  the  writer — that  the  small-pox 
had  almost  finished  him ; still,  he  had  come  very 
near  escaping  from  the  jail;  that  he  was  u a grand 
’scape-gallows.”  On  reading  the  letter  of  Captain 

Mills  his  color  changed,  and  when  he  had  finished 

11 


162 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


it,  turning  to  Mrs.  Nixon,  he  said  in  an  altered 
tone : “ I am  sorry  these  men  have  not  been  dis- 
missed, as  of  right  they  ought.”  He  immediately 
vvrote  a discharge  for  eleven  of  the  prisoners,  and 
put  it  into  her  hands,  saying:  “You  can  get  them 
out,  madam.  I am  very  sorry  they  have  been  con- 
fined so  many  weeks  longer  than  they  should  have 
been.”  At  the  same  time  he  gave  Mrs.  Nixon  a 
guinea.  “ This,”  he  said,  “ will  bear  your  expenses.” 
His  lordship  accompanied  her  on  her  way  out, 
and  as  she  passed  through  the  gate  his  eye  fell 
on  Mrs.  McCalla,  whom  he  instantly  recognized. 
Walking  to  the  spot  where  she  stood  near  the  gate, 
he  said  fiercely : “ Did  I not  order  you,  madam, 
to  keep  out  of  my  presence  ? ” The  matron’s  inde- 
pendent spirit  flashed  from  her  eyes,  as  she  answered : 
“ I had  no  wish,  sir,  tG  intrude  myself  on  ymur 
presence ; I stopped  at  the  gate  on  purpose  to  avoid 
you.”  Unable  to  resist  the  temptation  of  speaking 
her  mind  for  once,  now  that  she  had  a last  oppor- 
tunity, she  added  : “ I might  turn  the  tables  on  you, 
sir,  and  ask,  why  did  you  come  out  to  the  gate  to 
insult  a woman  ? I have  received  from  you  nothing 
but  abuse.  My  distresses  you  have  made  sport  of, 
and  I ceased  long  since  to  expect  anything  from 
you  but  ill-treatment.  I am  now  not  your  supplicant ; 
[ came  to  demand , as  a right,  the  release  of  my 
husband ! ” So  saying,  she  bowed  to  him  contempt- 
uously, wheeled  about,  and  deliberately  walked  off, 
without  stopping  to  see  how  her  bold  language  was 
received.  Mrs.  Nixon  hastened  after  her,  pale  as 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


163 


death,  and  at  first  too  much  frightened  to  speak 
As  soon  as  she  found  voice,  she  exclaimed:  “ Sally, 
you  have  ruined  us,  I am  afraid!  Why,  he  may 
put  us  both  in  jail!” 

Mrs.  McCaUa  laughed  outright.  “It  is  not  the 
first  time,  Mary,”  she  replied,  “that  I have  given 
him  to  understand  I thought  him  a villain ! ” The 
two  made  their  way  back  to  the  prison,  but  even 
after  they  got  there  Mrs.  Nixon  had  not  recovered 
from  her  terror.  She  was  informed  that  it  would 
be  some  time  before  the  prisoners  could  be  released. 
The  blacksmith  was  then  sent  for,  and  came  with 
his  tools.  The  sound  of  the  hammering  in  the 
appartments  of  the  jail,  gave  the  first  intimation 
to  the  women  who  waited  to  greet  their  friends, 
that  the  helpless  captives  were  chained  to  the  floor. 
This  precaution  had  been  adopted  not  long  before, 
in  consequence  of  some  of  the  prisoners  having 
attempted  an  escape.  They  were  then  put  in  hand- 
cuffs or  chained  by  the  ankle.  These  men  left  the 
place  of  their  long  imprisonment  and  suffering 
in  company  with  the  two  women,  and  as  they 
marched  through  the  streets  of  Camden,  passing  the 
British  guard,  they  sang  at  the  top  of  their  voices 
the  songs  . of  the  “ liberty-men.” 


INTREPIDITY  OF  MRS.  ISRAEL. 


He  is  not  worthy  of  the  honey  comb, 

That  shuns  the  liive  because  the  bees  have  stings. 

Shakspeare. 


Dai  tag  the  Revolution,  Israel  Israel,  a true  whig 
and  a worthy  farmer,  residing  on  the  banks  of  the 
Delaware,  near  Wilmington,  was,  for  a short  time, 
a prisoner  on  board  the  frigate  Roebuck,  directly 
opposite  his  own  house  and  land.  While  thus  sit- 
uated, it  was  reported  by  some  loyalists  by  whose 
treachery  he  had  been  betrayed  into  the  bands  of 
the  enemy,  that  he  had  said  rej>eatedly  that  “ he 
would  sooner  drive  his  cattle  as  a present  to  George 
Washington,  than  receive  thousands  of  dollars  in 
British  gold  for  them.”  *The  commander  hearing 
the  report,  to  be  revenged  on  the  rebel,  sent  a small 
detachment  soldiers  to  drive  his  cattle,  which 
were  in  plain  sight  of  the  frigate,  down  to  the  De- 
laware, and  nave  them  slaughtered  before  tLeir 
owner’s  eyes.  Mrs.  Israel,  * who  was  young  and 


’The  maiden  nr  ne  of  Mrs.  Israel  was  Hannah  Erwin.  Her  first 
meeting  with  her  nusband  was  romantic  enough.  Mr.  Israel  had 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


165 


sprightly,  and  brave  as  a Spartan,  seeing  the  move- 
ments of  the  soldiers  as  she  stood  in  her  doorway, 
and  divining  their  purpose  as  they  marched  towards 
the  meadow  where  the  cattle  were  grazing,  called  a 
boy  about  eight  years  old,  and  started  off  in  great 
haste,  to  defeat,  if  possible,  their  marauding  project. 
They  threatened  and  she  defied,  till  at  last  they  fired 
at  her.  The  cattle,  more  terrified  than  she,  scattered 
over  the  fields ; and  as  the  balls  flew  thicker  she  cal- 
led on  the  little  boy  “Joe”  the  louder  and  more 
earnestly  to  help,  determined  that  the  assailants 
should  not  have  one  of  the  cattle.  They  did  not . 
She  drove  them  all  into  the  barn-yard,  when  the 
soldiers,  out  of  respect  to  her  courage,  or  for  some 
other  cause,  ceased  their  molestations  and  returned 
to  the  frigate. 


sailed  in  a sloop,  or  packet,  from  Philadelphia,  to  visit  New  Castle 
where  his  mother  and  family  resided.  He  observed  on  deck  an  ex- 
tremely pretty  girl,  hardly  seventeeen  years  of  age,  and  very  neatly 
and  tastefully  dressed,  with  the  finest  turned  foot  and  ankle  in  the 
world.  All  who  went  on  such  voyages  were  then  obliged  to  furnish 
themselves  with  provisions ; and  his  attention  was  drawn  by  the  young 
girl’s  kindly  distribution  of  her  little  stock,  handing  it  about  from  one 
to  another,  till  but  little  was  left  for  her  own  portion.  In  passing  liirn, 
she  modestly  hesitated  a moment,  and  then  offered  him  a share.  This 
led  to  conversation ; he  learned  that  she  was  the  daughter  of  highly 
respectable  parents,  and  resided  in  Wilmington.  Love  at  first  sight 
was  as  common  in  those  days  as  now.  After  seeing  his  mother,  he 
visited  Wilmington;  became  better  acquainted,  offered  himself  and 
was  accepted : and  on  his  marriage,  rented  the  farm  above  mentioned, 
and  commenced  life  anew.  — [ Mrs.  Ellet. 


AN  INCIDENT  IN  MISSIONARY  LIRE. 


Love’s  holy  flame  for  ever  burneth ; 

From  heaven  it  came,  to  heaven  returneth  ; 

Too  oft  on  earth  a troubled  guest, 

. . . at  times  oppressed. 

It  here  is  tried  and  purified, 

Then  hath  in  heaven  its  perfect  rest. 

It  soweth  here  with  toil  and  care, 

But  the  harvest  time  of  love  is  there. 

Southey. 


No  class  of  laborers  in  the  broad  harvest  field  of 
the  world  endure  so  many  sacrifices  of  comfort  and 
of  home  felicities  as  the  missionaries  to  foreign 
countries.  Of  the  trials  peculiar  to  mothers  who  go 
forth  on  such  an  errand  of  humanity,  the  keenest  must 
be  their  separation  from  their  children.  The  pei 
nicious  habits  and  influences  of  a pagan  community, 
often  render  it  absolutely  necessary  that  their  offspring 
should  be  sent  to  a civilized  land  to  be  educated. 
This  duty,  however  painful,  is  imperative,  and  they 
who  accuse  the  mother  of  hardness  because  she  does 
it,  are  either  grossly  ignorant,  or  haters  of  truth. 
Many  instances  of  heroic  firmness  and  almost  super- 
human calmness  under  such  trials,  are  on  record,  but 
one  may  stand  as  a type  of  the  whole. 


OT  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


167 


Mrs.  Comstock*  of  the  Burmah  Baptist  mission 
felt  called  upon  to  part  with  her  two  children,  whom 
God  had  given  her  while  on  the  field  of  labor. 
The  hour  for  separation  came,  and  taking  them  by 
the  hand,  she  led  them  down  to  the  ship  that  was 
to  bear  them  for  ever  from  her  sight.  Having  in- 
voked the  blessing  of  Heaven  upon  them,  she  gave 
each  the  parting  kiss  and,  with  streaming  eyes, 
lifted  her  hands  towards  heaven  and  exclaimed : 
“ My  Saviour ! 1 do  this  for  thee.” 

Amid  the  jungles  of  the  East, 

Where  gloomiest  forms  of  sin  are  rife, 

Like  flowerets  in  a desert  drear. 

Her  treasured  ones  had  sprung  to  life. 

And  smiling  round  her,  day  by  day. 

Though  cares  unnumbered  Aveigh  her  heart, 

Their  prattle,  full  of  music  tones. 

Unceasing  joy  and  hope  impart. 

Their  little  minds,  like  tender  buds 
In  vernal  hours,  she  sees  unfold. 

And  young  affection  in  their  eyes 
Is  gleaming  like  a gem  of  gold. 

But  ’mid  the  toils  that  press  her  sore  — 

The  spirit- wants  of  ’wildered  ones  — 

These  buds  must  often  miss  the  dew. 

And  plead  in  vain  for  constant  suns. 

She  sees  their  smiles,  their  music  hears. 

And  feels  affection’s  holy  thrall ; 

But  duty’s  voice,  from  out  the  skies. 

In  sweeter  tones,  is  heard  o’er  all. 


* Sarah  Davis  Comstock  was  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Grover  8, 
Comstock,  who  was  stationed  at  Kyouk  Phyoo  in  the  province  of 
Arracan,  Burmah.  She  was  born  at  Brookline,  Massachusetts,  in  181^, 
and  died  at  Ramree,  April  twenty-eighth,  1843. 


1C8 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


To  Western  climes,  illumed  by  truth, 

And  blest  with  learning’s  sacred  flowers. 
These  blossoms  of  her  heart  must  go, 

To  bloom  henceforth  in  stranger  bowers. 

She  leads  them  to  the  waiting  ship  ; 

She  kneels  in  anguish  on  the  deck, 

And  while  she  breathes  a silent  prayer. 
Their  arms  like  tendrils  twine  her  neck. 

She  tears  her  from  the  loved  away, 

Whom  she  on  earth  no  more  may  see, 
And  looking  up  to  heaven,  exclaims, 

“My  Saviour , I do  this  for  thee  ! ” 

Then  hastens  to  her  task  again, 

The  pleasant  task  her  Saviour’s  given. 
That,  finished  all,  she  may  ascend, 

And  lure  the  distant  ones  to  heaven 


A KIND-HEARTED  CHIPPEWA. 


Both  men  and  women  belie  their  nature 
When  they  are  not  kind. 

Bailey’s  Festus. 

In  the  early  settlement  of  Ohio,  Daniel  Conyers 
was  captured  by  the  savages ; but  he  had  the  good 
fortune  to  be  purchased  by  a noble-hearted  Indian 
whose  wife  possessed  a kindred  spirit.  His  condi- 
tion, we  are  informed  in  the  Pioneer  History  of 
Ohio,  “was  not  that  of  a slave,  but  rather  an 
adoption  into  the  family  as  a son.  The  Indian’s 
wife,  whom  he  was  directed  to  call  mother,  was  a 
model  of  all  that  is  excellent  in  woman,  being 
patient,  kind-hearted,  humane  and  considerate  to 
the  wants  and  comfort  of  all  around  her,  and  es- 
pecially so  to  their  newly  adopted  son.  To  sum 
up  all  her  excellences  in  a brief  sentence  of  the 
captive’s  own  language,  she  was  ‘ as  good  a woman 
as  ever  lived.’  ” * 


* Mr.  Convers  escaped  from  his  Chippewa  friends,  at  Detroit. 
Touching  the  treatment  he  received  from  his  adopted  mother,  a 
writer  says : “ How  few  among  the  more  civilized  race  of  whites 
would  ever  imitate  the  Christian  charities  of  this  untaught  daughter 
of  nature ! ” 


HUMANITY  OF  A CHEROKEE 


May 


How  poor  an  instrument 
do  a noble  deed. 


Shakspeare. 


Dining  the  Revolution,  a young  Shawanese  In 
dian  was  captured  by  the  Cherokees  and  sentenced 
to  die  at  the  stake.  He  was  tied,  and  the  usual 
preparations  were  made  for  his  execution,  when  a 
Cherokee  woman  went  to  the  warrior  to  whom  the 
prisoner  belonged,  and  throwing  a parcel  of  goods 
at  his  feet,  said  she  was  a widow  and  would 
adopt  the  captive  as  her  son,  and  earnestly  plead 
for  his  deliverance.  Her  prayer  was  granted,  and 
the  prisoner  taken  under  her  care.  He  rewarded 
her  by  his  fidelity,  for,  in  spite  of  the  entreaties  of 
his  friends,  whom  he  was  allowed  to  visit,  he  never 
left  her. 


SELF-S  ACRIFICIN G SPIRIT  OF  THE  MIS- 
SIONARY. 


Thou  know  ’st  not,  Afric ! sad  of  heart  and  blind, 
Unskilled  the  precious  Book  of  God  to  read  ; 

Thou  canst  not  know,  what  moved  that  soul  refined, 

Thj  lot  of  wretchedness  to  heed, 

And  from  her  fireside,  bright  with  hallowed  glee, 

To  dare  the  boisterous  surge  and  deadly  clime  for  thee. 

Mrs.  Sigourney. 

We  know  not  liow  one  may  exhibit  greater  benevo- 
lence than  to  offer  life  for  the  spiritual  good  of  the 
heathen ; and  he  virtually  does  this  who  goes  to 
some,  at  least,  of  the  missionary  stations.  Those  in 
Africa  are  the  most  unhealthy,  and  their  history 
presents  a frightful  bill  of  mortality.  In  his  journal 
of  January,  1816,  Dr.  Savage,  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal mission  in  Africa,  states  that  during  the  nine 
years  previous  to  that  date,  the  whole  number  of  mis- 
sionaries under  the  patronage  of  the  different  Boards, 
in  Africa,  had  been  sixty-one,  and  of  that  number 
forty  were  then  dead.  American  Baptists  alone  lost 
eleven  between  1826  and  1848.  Five  of  them  were 
buried  in  the  single  town  of  Monrovia.  With  such 
facts  as  these,  touching  African  missions,  staring  the 
disciple  of  Christ  in  the  face,  it  must  require  no  com 


172 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


mon  degree  of  moral  courage  for  him  to  embark  in 
the  enterprise. 

The  following  letter,  by  Miss  Maria  Y.  Chapin, 
of  Vermont,  was  written  prior  to  her  leaving  this 
country  for  West  Africa,  and  breathes  the  senti- 
ments of  a self-sacrificing  and  heroic  Christian.  Mul- 
titudes of  like  examples,  equally  as  noble,  might  be 
pointed  out,  but  it  seems  to  be  needless : this  letter 
may  stand  as  a type  of  the  spirit  usually  exhibited 
under  similar  circumstances.  It  was  addressed  to  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Vaughan,  then  Secretary  of  the  Foreign 
Committee  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church : 

“The  question  of  my  personally  engaging  in  a 
mission  to  the  heathen,  has  long  been  before  my 
mind,  and  received,  as  it  claimed,  my  most  serious 
and  prayerful  consideration.  This  great  work  is  now 
brought  nearer  to  my  mind  than  I could  ever  before 
regard  it, -and  I trust  it  does  not  appear  the  less  desi- 
rable. I have  considered  the  subject  in  every  light, 
so  far  as  I am  able  from  the  information  I have  re- 
specting it,  and  I can  never  take  up  the  question 
again,  to  find  reasons  for  going.  My  mind  is  now 
settled  as  to  the  duty,  should  no  unforeseen  providence 
prevent,  of  leaving  home  and  country  for  a heathen 
land.  A long  adieu  to  my  kindred  and  friends  will 
rend  the  heart ; 1 feel  already  that  it  will ; but  at  the 
same  time,  the  prospect  of  doing  good  to  some  poor 
heathen  soul  will  fill  it  with  joy,  and  the  hope  of  ad 
vancing,  in  ever  so  small  a degree,  the  cause  of  my 
Redeemer,  will  be  a constant  feast  to  the  soul.  The 
silent  tear  of  parental  affection  and  solicitude  would 


OF  AMERICAN  V OMEN. 


173 


indeed  overpower  me,  had  I not  confidence  that  He 
who  thus  afflicts,  will  support,  my  beloved  parents. 
Neither,  in  the  present  case,  can  1 think  it  proper  to 
follow,  altogether,  the  opinion  of  friends.  With  the 
smiles  of  my  heavenly  Father,  I must  be  happy, 
though  friends  forsake  me.  I feel  an  inexpressible 
pleasure  in  commending  them  to  God,  assured  that 
they  will  be  enabled  to  give  up  their  child  without  re- 
gret, in  the  hope  that  she  will  do  good  to  perishing 
souls.  And  I have,  also,  that  blessed  hope,  that, 
should  wTe  never  again  meet  in  this  world,  we  shall  be 
a happy  family  circle  at  the  right  hand  of  God. 
Still,  I feel  my  own  insufficiency  to  decide  a question 
of  such  importance  as  that  of  leaving  all  that  the 
heart  holds  most  dear  on  earth,  to  encounter  the  toils 
and  hardships  of  a missionary  life.  Indeed,  I would 
not  decide  for  myself.  I trust  solely  to  Him  who  has 
promised  grace  and  strength.  Though,  at  times,  great 
weakness  has  constrained  me  to  shrink  at  the  pros- 
pect before  me,  I have  been  consoled  and  supported 
in  the  assurance  that  God  will  perfect  strength  in  my 
weakness.  I feel  a desire  to  act  in  accordance  with 
the  will  of  God ; to  do  nothing  which  would  be  dis- 
pleasing in  His  sight.  I think  I am  willing  to  be,  and 
to  do,  anything  for  the  sake  of  the  glory  of  God ; and 
if  I can  only  be  sure  that  I am  wholly  under  the  gui- 
dance of  His  spirit,  I shall  be  fully  satisfied.  It  is 
difficult,  I know,  to  analyze  one’s  feelings,  and  ascer- 
tain the  real  character  of  the  motives  by  which  we  are 
actuated ; I feel  my  liability  to  be  deceived,  and  my 
need  of  Divine  assistance.  The  only  question  which 


174 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


concerns  me,  is,  are  my  motives  pure  and  noly? 
Never  would  I bear  the  missionary  standard,  without 
having  in  my  heart  the  missionary  spirit.  I have 
calmly  and  deliberately  weighed  the  subject,  and  feel 
that  no  attraction  from  its  i?  /velty,  no  impulse  from 
its  moral  dignity,  can  bear  up,  and  carry  forward  any 
one,  amidst  the  long  continued  labors  of  almost  uni- 
form sameness  which  you  represented  to  me  ; nothing 
but  a thorough  conviction  of  being  in  the  path  of  duty, 
nothing  but  the  approving  smile  of  Heaven,  can  keep 
one  from  despondency,  from  sinking  into  hopeless  in- 
activity ; but  I have  calmly  and  deliberately  weighed 
the  subject,  and  feel  a willingness  to  give  up  comforts, 
and  submit  to  privations,  to  forsake  ease  and  endure 
toil,  to  assemble  no  more  ‘with  the  great  congrega- 
tion,5 but  seek  the  Lord  in  the  wilderness,  or  in  the 
desert — in  short,  to  make  every  sacrifice  of  personal 
ease  and  gratification,  for  the  one  great  object  of  ma- 
king  known  a crucified  Saviour  to  those  who  are  per- 
ishing in  ignorance  and  sin.  Indeed,  what  sacrifice 
can  be  top  great,  if  what  is  done  for  Him  who  bought 
us  with  his  own  blood  can  be  called  a sacrifice,  for 
those  to  make,  who  have  themselves  experienced  the 
efficacy  of  a Saviour’s  blood?  I have  reflected,  that 
should  I go  out,  cheered  by  the  smiles  of  friends,  and 
encouraged  by  the  approbation  of  the  churches,  yet 
soon,  amidst  a people  of  strange  speech,  I shall  see 
these  smiles  only  in  remembrance,  and  hear  the  voice 
of  encouragement  only  in  dying  whispers  across  the 
ocean.  Yet,  when  I have  considered  the  command  of 
Christ,  ‘Go  ye  and  teach  all  nations,5 — and  when 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


175 


in  pouring  out  my  soul  on  this  subject  to  the  Father 
of  light,  I have  realized  more  of  that  sweet  ‘peace 
which  passeth  all  understanding;5  objections  have 
all  dwindled  to  a point;  I have  been  enabled,  by 
the  eye  of  faith,  to  discover  the  finger  of  God, 
pointing  me  to  the  benighted  African,  and  have 
heard  his  voice  saying,  with  the  affection  of  a Father 
and  the  authority  of  a Sovereign,  ‘ Come,  follow  me5 
— ‘He  that  loveth  father  or  mother  more  than  me, 
is  not  worthy  of  me  ; 5 and  adding,  for  my  encourage- 
ment, ‘I  will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake  thee.5 
[ do  feel  that  God  calls  me  to  become  a missionary, 
and  do,  with  this  belief,  resolve  to  consider  myself 
as  devoted  to  that  service,  hoping  that  God  will 
qualify  me,  and  make  me  a faithful  servant  for 
Christ’s  sake.55* 


*This  letter  was  written  in  the  fall  of  1841.  Miss  Chapin,  afterwards 
Mrs.  Savage,  embarked  for  Africa  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  the  following 
January,  and  reached  Cape  Palmas  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  March.  As 
might  be  anticipated,  her  labors  soon  closed.  She  died  on  the  field, 
tr  December,  1843. 

“ That  life  is  long  which  answers  life’s  g cat  end.” 


DARING  EXPLOIT  OF  “TWO  REBELS.” 


Think’st  thou  there  dwells  no  courage  but  in  breasts 
That  set  their  mail  against  the  ringing  spears. 

When  helmets  are  struck  down  ? Thou  little  knowest 
Of  nature’s  marvels. 

Mrs.  Hemans. 

During  the  sieges  of  Augusta  and  Cambridge,  two 
young  men  of  the  name  of  Martin,  belonging  to 
Ninety-Six  district,  South  Carolina,  were  in  the 
army.  Meanwhile  their  wives,  who  remained  at 
home  with  their  mother-in-law,  displayed  as  much 
courage,  on  a certain  occasion,  as  was  exhibited, 
perhaps,  by  any  female  during  the  struggle  for  In- 
dependence. 

Receiving  intelligence  one  evening  that  a courier, 
under  guard  of  two  British  officers,  would  pass  their 
house  that  night  with  important  dispatches,  Grace 
and  Rachel  Martin  resolved  to  surprise  the  party 
and  obtain  the  papers.  Disguising  themselves  in 
their  husbands’  outer  garments  and  providing  them- 
selves with  arms,  they  waylaid  the  enemy.  Soon 
after  they  took  their  station  by  the  road-side,  the 
courier  and  his  escort  made  their  appearance.  At 
the  proper  moment,  the  disguised  ladies  sprang  from 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


177 


their  bushy  covert,  and  presenting  their  pistols,  or- 
dered the  party  to  surrender  their  papers.  Surprised 
and  alarmed,  they  obeyed  without  hesitation  or  the 
least  resistance.  The  brave  women  having  put  them 
on  parole,  hastened  home  by  the  nearest  route,  which 
was  a by-path  through  the  woods,  and  dispatched  the 
documents  to  General  Greene  by  a single  messenger, 
who  probably  had  more  courage  than  the  trio  that 
lately  bore  them. 

Strange  to  say,  a few  minutes  after  the  ladies 
reached  home,  and  just  as  they  had  doffed  their 
male  attire,  the  officers,  retracing  their  steps,  rode  up 
to  the  house  and  craved  accommodations  for  the 
night.  The  mother  of  the  heroines  asked  them  the 
cause  of  their  so  speedy  return  after  passing  her 
house,  when  they  exhibited  their  paroles  and  said  that 
u two  rebels  55  had  taken  them  prisoners.  Here  the 
young  ladies,  in  a rallying  mood,  asked  them  if  they 
had  no  arms,  to  which  query  they  replied,  that, 
although  they  had,  they  were  arrested  so  suddenly 
that  they  had  no  time  to  use  them.  We  have  only 
to  add  that  they  were  hospitably  entertained,  and 
the  next  morning  took  their  leave  of  the  women  as 
ignorant  of  the  residence  of  their  captors  as  when 
first  arrested. 


12 


ELIZABETH  MARTIN. 


The  mothers  of  our  Forest-land! 

Their  bosoms  pillowed  men. 

W.  D.  Gallagheb. 

— A fine  family  is  a fine  thing. 

Byron. 

The  mother-in-law  of  the  two  patriotic  women 
spoken  of  in  the  preceding  article,  was  a native  of 
Caroline  count)7’,  Virginia.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Marshall.  On  marrying  Mr.  Abram  Martin,  she  re- 
moved to  South  Carolina. 

When  the  Revolutionary  war  broke  out,  she  had 
seven  sons  old  enough  to  enlist  in  their  country’s 
service ; and  as  soon  as  the  call  to  arms  was  heard, 
she  said  to  them,  “Go,  boys,  and  fight  for  your 
country!  fight  till  death,  if  you  must,  but  never 
let  your  country  be  dishonored.  Were  I a man  I 
would  go  with  you.” 

Several  British  officers  once  called  at  her  house, 
and  while  receiving  some  refreshments,  one  of  them 
asked  her  how  many  sons  she  had.  She  told  him, 
eight;  and  when  asked  where  they  were,  she  boldly 
replied,  “Seven  of  them  are  engaged  in  the  service 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


179 


of  their  country.”  The  officer  sneeringly  observed 
that  she  had  enough  of  them.  “No,  sir,  I wish  I 
had  fifty!”  was  her  prompt  and  proud  reply. 

Only  one  of  those  seven  sons  was  killed  during 
the  war.  He  was  a captain  of  artillery,  served  in 
the  sieges  of  Savannah  and  Charleston,  and  was 
slain  at  the  siege  of  Augusta.  Soon  after  his  death 
a British  officer  called  on  the  mother,  and  in 
speaking  of  this  son,  inhumanly  told  her  that  he  saw 
his  brains  blown  out  on  the  battle  field.  The  reply 
she  made  to  the  monster’s  observation  was:  “He 
could  not  have  died  in  a nobler  cause.” 

When  Charleston  was  besieged,  she  had  three 
sons  in  the  place.  She  heard  the  report  of  cannon 
on  the  occasion,  though  nearly  a hundred  miles 
west  of  the  besieged  city.  The  wives  of  the  sons 
were  with  her,  and  manifested  great  uneasiness 
while  listening  to  the  reports ; nor  could  the  mother 
control  her  feelings  any  better.  While  they  were 
indulging  in  silent  and,  as  we  -may  suppose,  painful 
•reflections,  the  mother  suddenly  broke  the  silence 
by  exclaming,  as  she  raised  her  hands:  “Thank 

God ! they  are  the  children  of  the  republic ! ”* 


*Vide  Women  of  the  Revolution,  vol.  1 p.  278. 


THE  MOTHER’S  EFFECTUAL  PETITION. 


What  rhetoric  didst  thou  use 
To  gain  this  mighty  boon? 

Addison. 

James  M.  Wilson  was  one  of  the  unfortunate  young 
men  who  engaged  in  the  Cuban  invasion,  in  1851 ; and 
he  was  taken  prisoner  and  sent  to  Spain.  His  mother 
petitioned  for  his  release  through  President  Fillmore, 
and  so  earnest,  so  full  of  the  beauty  of  maternal  love, 
and  so  touching  was  her  appeal,  that  her  request  was 
granted,  and  the  erring  son  was  permitted  to  return  to 
his  mother’s  embrace.  The  following  is  a copy  of  the 
letter  which  she  addressed  to  the  President.  It  is  said 
to  have  called  forth  flattering  commendation  from  the 
heads  of  State  and  the  highest  encomiums  from  the 
Majesty  of  Spain. 

Hew  Orleans,  Sept.  25,  1851. 

Dear  Father  of  our  Country:— To  you  I look  for 
help.  My  dear  son  is  one  of  the  unfortunate  prisoners, 
to  Spain.  He  is  all  the  child  I have ; is  only  nineteen 
years  old,  not  twenty-two,  as  stated.  He  was  innocent 
and  unsuspecting,  and  the  more  easily  duped.  He  saw 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


181 


no  means  of  making  a support  for  himself  and  me,  we 
being  poor : he  could  get  no  employment ; my  health 
was  bad ; he  therefore  hoped  to  do  something  by  going 
to  Cuba.  But,  alas!  I am  worse  than  poor!  Death 
would  have  been  more  welcome.  His  father  died, 
when  he  was  very  young,  in  Texas,  which  makes  him 
more  dear  to  me.  Oh ! cruel  fate,  why  have  I lived  to 
see  this?  Perhaps  to  suit  some  wise  design.  God’s 
will  be  done,  not  mine!  I have  prayed  for  his  life 
from  the  time  he  left;  it  was  spared.  Dear  President, 
will  it  be  possible  for  you  to  do  any  thing?  Can  you 
comfort  me  ? I am  wearing  away.  Methinks  I cannot 
bear  up  under  the  idea  of  ten  years ; perhaps  executed, 
or  detained  for  life,  or  the  climate  cause  his  death.  I 
feel  for  all  of  them,  and  pray  for  all.  It  was  not  my 
will  that  he  should  go;  he  was  seduced  into  it  by 
others.  Dear  father  of  the  land  of  my  birth,  can  you 
do  any  thing?  Will  you  ask  for  their  release?  Methinks 
you  will,  and  it  would  be  granted.  Will  you  feel 
offended  with  me  for  appealing  to  you  for  comfort? 
If  so,  I beg  pardon.  My  distress  has  stimulated  me 
to  venture  to  dare  to  address  the  President.  To  whom 
else  could  I look  for  comfort?  If  you  could  but  see 
me,  I know  you  would  pity  me.  If  any  one  knew  I 
had  approached  you,  they  might  think  I presumed 
much.  Perhaps  I do.  Yet  methinks  you  will  view 
it  in  charity. 

With  all  due  respect  to  your  Excellency. 


OPHELIA  P.  TALBOT. 


NOTEWORTHY  INTEGRITY. 


Honesty,  even  by  itself,  though  making  many  adversaries 
Whom  prudence  might  have  set  aside,  or  charity  have  softened, 
Evermore  will  prosper  at  the  last. 

Tupper. 

We  have  often  read  an  interesting  story  of  a stock- 
broker who,  just  before  his  death,  laid  a wager  on  pa- 
role with  a Parisian  capitalist;  and  a few  weeks  after 
his  death,  the  latter  visited  the  widow  and  gave  her  to 
understand  that  her  late  husband  had  lost  a bet  of 
sixteen  thousand  francs.  She  went  to  her  secretary, 
took  out  her  pocket-book,  and  counted  bank  notes  to 
the  stated  amount,  when  the  capitalist  thus  addressed 
her:  “ Madame,  as  you  give  such  convincing  proof 
that  you  consider  the  wager  binding,  I have  to  pay 
you  sixteen  thousand  francs.  Here  is  the  sum,  for  1 
am  the  loser,  and  not  your  husband.” 

An  act  that,  in  principle,  matches  the  above,  came 
to  light  not  long  since  in  Philadelphia.  During  the 
speculations  of  1837-38,  Mr.  C.,  a young  merchant  of 
that  city,  possessed  of  a handsome  fortune,  caught  the 
mania,  entered  largely  into  its  operations,  and  for  a 
time  was  considered  immensely  rich.  But  when  the 
great  revulsion  occurred  he  was  suddenly  reduced  to 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


IS;* 

bankruptcy.  His  young  wife  immediately  withdrew 
from  the  circles  of  wealth  and  fashion,  and  adapted 
her  expenses,  family  and  personal,  to  her  altered  cir- 
cumstances. 

At  the  time  of  Mr.  C.’s  failure,  his  wife  was  in  debt 
co  Messrs.  Stewart  and  Company,  merchants  of  Phila- 
delphia, about  two  hundred  dollars  for  articles  which 
she  had  used  personally.  This  debt,  she  had  no 
means  of  liquidating.  It  became  barred  by  the  sta- 
tute of  limitation,  before  Mr.  C.  became  solvent, 
though  his  circumstances  gradually  improved.  After 
the  lapse  of  twelve  years,  and  when  the  creditors  had 
looked  upon  the  debt  as  lost,  Mrs.  C.  was  able  to  take 
the  principle,  add  to  it  twelve  years’  interest,  enclose 
the  whole  in  a note  and  address  it  to  Messrs.  Stewart 
and  Company.* 


* Messrs.  Stewart  and  Company,  upon  the  receipt  of  the  money,  ad- 
Iressed  a note  in  reply  to  Mrs.  C.,  in  which  they  requested  her  ac- 
ceptance of  the  accompanying  gift,  as  a slight  testimonial  of  their  high 
appreciation  of  an  act  so  honorable  and  so  rare  as  to  call  forth  un- 
qualified admiration.  Accompanying  the  letter  was  sent  a superb  bro- 
cade silk  dress,  and  some  laces  of  exquisite  texture  and  great  value. 
^[Philadelphia  Enquirer. 


A FAITHFUL  MOTHER. 


— Her  pure  and  holy  spirit  now 
Doth  intercede  at  the  eternal  throne. 

Miss  Landon. 

The  following  anecdote  strikingly  illustrates  the 
strength  of  maternal  love,  the  beauty  of  faith,  and 
the  efficacy  of  prayer.  It  was  related  by  a blind 
preacher : 

“When  I was  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  there 
was  a dancing  party  in  Middleboro,  Massachusetts, 
which  I was  solicited  to  attend,  and  act,  as  usual,  in 
the  capacity  of  musician.  I was  fond  of  such  scenes 
of  amusements  then,  and  I readily  assented  to  the 
request.  I had  a pious  mother;  and  she  earnestly 
remonstrated  against  my  going.  But,  at  length,  when 
all  her  expostulations  and  entreaties  failed  in  chang- 
ing my  purpose,  she  said:  c Well,  my  son,  I shall 
not  forbid  your  going,  but  remember,  that  all  the 
time  you  spend  in  that  gay  company,  I shall  spend 
in  praying  for  you  at  home.5  I went  to  the  ball, 
but  I was  like  the  stricken  deer,  carrying  an  arrow 
in  his  side.  I began  to  play  j but  my  convictions 
sank  deeper  and  deeper,  and  I felt  miserable  indeed. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


185 


I thought  I would  have  given  the  world  to  have 
been  rid  of  that  mother’s  prayers.  At  one  time  I 
felt  so  wretched  and  so  overwhelmed  with  my  feel- 
ings, that  I ceased  playing  and  dropped  my  musical 
instrument  from  my  hand.  There  was  another  young 
person  there  who  refused  to  dance  ; and,  as  I learned, 
her  refusal  was  owing  to  feelings  similar  to  my  own, 
and  perhaps  they  arose  from  a similar  cause.  My 
mother’s  prayers  were  not  lost.  That  was  the  last 
ball  I ever  attended,  except  one , where  I was  invited 
to  play  again,  but  went  and  prayed  and  preached 
instead , till  the  place  was  converted  into  a Bochirn, 
a place  of  weeping.  The  convictions  of  that  wretched 
night  never  wholly  left  me,  till  they  left  me  at  the 
feet  of  Christ,  and  several  of  my  young  companions 
in  sin  ere  long  were  led  to  believe  and  obey  the 
gospel  also.” 


i 


ANT « DOTE  OF  MRS.  SPAULDING  OF 
NEW  HAMPSHIRE  * 


Through  the  deep  wilderness,  where  scarce  the  sun 
Can  cast  his  darts,  along  the  winding  path 
The  pioneer  is  treading. 

Street. 


An  energy 

A spirit  that  will  not  be  shaken. 

Willis. 


One  of  the  first  two  settlers  of  Northumberland, 
New  Hampshire,  was  Daniel  Spaulding,  who  removed 
thither  in  the  summer  of  1767.  On  the  way  to  his 
new  home,  with  his  wife  and  child,  the  last  burnt 
himself  so  badly  at  Plymouth  that  the  mother  was 
obliged  to  remain  and  take  care  of  him,  while  Mr. 
Spaulding  proceeded  to  the  end  of  the  journey. 
She  soon  became  uneasy,  and,  anxious  to  join  her 
husband,  started  off  with  her  child,  twenty-one 

*The  substance  of  this  anecdote  we  find  in  the  second  number  of 
the  first  volume  of  a periodical  called  “ Historical  Collections,* * 
published  nearly  thirty  years  ago  at  Concord,  New  Hampshire,  and 
edited  by  J.  Farmer  and  J.  B.  Moore.  The  anecdote  was  communicated 
by  Adino  N.  Brackett,  Esq.,  of  Lancaster,  and  appeared  in  the  June 

number  for  1822. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


187 


months  old,  to  travel  twenty-six  miles  through  the 
wilderness.  A friend  who  had  agreed  to  accompany 
her  the  whole  distance  with  a horse,  returned  after 
traveling  about  one  third  of  the  way.  Undaunted 
and  persevering,  she  pushed  on,  alone  and  on  foot; 
waded  through  Baker’s  river  with  her  child  in  her 
arms;  was  overtaken  by  a heavy  “ thunder  gust” 
in  the  afternoon,  and  thoroughly  drenched  ; seated 
herself  beside  a tree  when  darkness  appeared,  and 
held  her  child  in  her  lap  through  a long  and  sleep- 
less night;  resumed  her  journey  early  the  next 
morning ; waded  through  a small  pond,  with  the 
water  waist-high  ; pushed  on  to  another  river,  which, 
though  swollen  by  the  rain  of  the  preceding  day 
and  looking  rapid  and  terrifying,  she  forded  in  safety; 
and  at  eleven  o’clock  that  day,  the  second  of  her 
journey,  she  met  her  husband,  who  was  on  his 
way  back  with  a horse  for  her  accommodation.* 


*This  pioneer  matron  of  northern  New  Hampshire,  was  living  at 
Lancaster,  in  1822,  then  in  her  eighty-second  year.  She  was  a descen- 
dai  fc,  “ in  the  third  degree,”  of  Mrs.  Dustin,  the  heroine  of  Penacook. 


THE  WIFE  OF  COLONEL  THOMaS. 


Then  since  there  is  no  other  way  but  fight  or  die, 

Be  resolute,  my  lord,  for  victory. 

Shakspeare. 

Jane  Thomas,  wife  of  John  Thomas,  Colonel  of  the 
Spartan  regiment  of  South  Carolina,  was  a native  of 
Chester  county,  Pennsylvania.  She  was  a woman  of 
remarkable  coolness  and  intrepidity,  as  a single  act 
of  hers,  in  the  times  that  tried  women's  souls, 
plainly  indicates. 

Governor  Rutledge  having  stored  a quantity  of 
arms  and  ammunition  in  the  house  of  Colonel 
Thomas,  under  a guard  of  twenty-five  men,  the 
tories  were  determined  to  obtain  these  munitions. 
To  this  end  they  sent  a large  party  under  Colonel 
More  of  North  Carolina.  Apprised  of  their  ap- 
proach and  not  daring  to  engage  with  a force  * so 
superior,  Colonel  Thomas  fled  with  his  twenty-five 
soldiers,  taking  along  as  much  ammunition  as 
could  be  conveniently  carried.  Two  young  men  and 
the  women  were  now  the  sole  occupants  of  the 
house.  The  tories  marched  up  to  the  door,  but 
instead  of  being  invited  by  the  ladies  to  enter,  they 
were  ordered  off  the  premises.  Not  choosing  to 


)F  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


189 


obey  the  commands  of  the  mistress,  they  commenced 
firing  into  the  logs  of  the  house.  The  compliment 
was  instantly  returned  from  the  upper  story;  and 
the  women  now  loading  the  guns  for  the  older  of 
the  two  young  men  to  discharge,  a constant  and 
perilous  firing  was  kept  up  from  the  chamber,  which 
soon  made  the  assailants  desperate.  They  forthwith 
attempted  to  demolish  the  “ batten  door,55  but  it 
was  too  strongly  barricaded.  Finding  that  them- 
selves were  likely  to  share  a worse  fate  then  the 
door,  they  finally  obeyed  the  original  orders  of  the 
intrepid  mistress ; withdrew  from  the  premises  and 
fled.  Mrs.  Thomas  soon  afterwards  descended,  and 
opening  the  door,  there  met  her  returning  husband. 
- -The  ammunition  saved  on  that  occasion  by  the 
courage  of  a woman,  was  the  main  supply,  it  is 
said,  of  Sumter’s  army  in  the  skirmishes  at  Rocky 
Mount  and  Hanging  Rock. 


EXEMPLARY  PIETY. 


I’ve  pored  o’er  many  a yellow  page 
Of  ancient  wisdom,  and  have  won, 

Perchance,  a scholar’s  name  — but  sage 
Or  bard  have  never  taught  thy  son 
Lessons  so  dear,  so  fraught  with  holy  truth, 

As  those  his  mother’s  faith  shed  on  his  youth. 

George  W.  Bethune. 

A lady  in  the  district  of  Beaufort,  South  Carolina, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-six,  anxious  once  more  to 
enjoy  the  society  of  all  her  children  and  grand- 
children, invited  them  to  spend  a day  with  her. 
The  interview  was  permitted  and  was  very  affecting. 
It  “was  conducted  just  as  we  should  suppose  piety 
and  the  relation  sustained  by  the  parties  would  dic- 
tate. She  acknowledged  God  in  this,  as  well  as  in 
every  other  way.  Her  eldest  son,  who  is  a minister 
of  the  Gospel  in  the  Baptist  denomination,  com- 
menced the  exercises  of  the  day,  by  reading  the 
Scriptures  and  prayer.  The  whole  family  then  joined 
in  the  song  of  praise  to  the  Giver  of  every  good 
and  perfect  gift.  This  service  was  concluded  by  a 
suitable  exhortation  from  the  same  person.  Eighty- 
five  of  her  regular  descendants  were  present.  Forty- 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


191 


four  children  and  grandchildren,  arrived  at  maturity, 
sat  at  the  same  table  at  dinner.  Of  that  number 
forty-three  professed  faith  in  Jesus  Christ ; of  the 
four  surviving  sons  of  this  excellent  lady,  two  were 
preachers  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  other  two  deacons 
in  the  Baptist  church. 

“Two  of  her  grandsons  were  also  ministers  of  the 
same  church.  When  the  day  was  drawing  to  a close 
the  matron  called  her  numerous  children  around  her, 
gave  them  each  salutary  advice  and  counsel,  and 
bestowed  upon  all  her  parting  blessing.  The  day 
was  closed  by  her  youngest  son,  with  exercises  similar 
to  those  with  which  it  commenced. 

“Mrs.— lived  eight  years  after  this  event,  lea 
ving,  at  her  death,  one  hundred  and  fifteen  lineal 
descendants,  in  which  large  number  not  a swearei 
nor  drunkard  is  to  be  found.”* 


*Jabez  Bums,  D.  D. 


BOLD  ADVENTURE  OF  A PATRIOTIC  GIRL. 


Stand 

Firm  for  your  country : * * 

* * it  were  a noble  life, 

To  be  found  dead  embracing  her. 

Johnson. 

There  is  strength 

Deep  bedded  in  our  hearts,  of  which  we  reck 
But  little. 

Mrs.  Hemans. 

We  find  the  following  incident  in  the  first  volume 
of  American  Anecdotes,  “ original  and  select.”  The 
young  heroine  of  the  adventure  afterwards  married 
a rich  planter  named  Threrwits,  who  lived  on  the 
Congaree.  She  has  been  dead  more  than  half  a 
century,  but  her  name  should  be  remembered  while 
this  republic  is  permitted  to  stand. 

“At  the  time  General  Greene  retreated  before 
Lord  Rawdon  from  Ninety-Six,  when  he  had  passed 
Broad  river,  he  was  very  desirous  to  send  an  order 
to  General  Sumter,  who  was  on  the  Wateree,  to 
join  him,  that  they  might  attack  Rawdon,  who  had 
divided  his  force.  But  the  General  could  find  no 
man  in  that  part  of  the  state  who  was  bold  enough 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


193 


to  undertake  so  dangerous  a mission.  The  country 
to  be  passed  through  for  many  miles  was  full  of 
blood  thirsty  tories,  who,  on  every  occasion  that  of- 
fered, imbrued  their  hands  in  the  blood  of  the  whigs. 
At  length  Emily  Geiger  presented  herself  to  General 
Greene,  and  proposed  to  act  as  his  messenger:  and 
the  General,  both  surprised  and  delighted,  closed  with 
hej-  proposal.  He  accordingly  wrote  a letter  and 
delivered  it,  and  at  the  same  time  communicated 
the  contents  of  it  verbally,  to  be  told  to  Sumter  in 
case  of  accidents. 

“ Emily  was  young,  but  as  to  her  person  or  ad- 
ventures on  the  way,  we  have  no  further  informa- 
tion, except  that  she  was  mounted  on  horseback, 
upon  a side-saddle,  and  on  the  second  day  of  her 
journey  she  was  intercepted  by  Lord  Rawdon’s 
scouts.  Coming  from  the  direction  of  Greene’s  army^ 
and  not  being  able  to  tell  an  untruth  without 
blushing,  Emily  was  suspected  and  confined  to  a 
room;  and  as  the  officer  in  command  had  the  mod- 
esty not  to  search  her  at  the  time,  he  sent  for  an 
old  tory  matron  as  more  fitting  for  that  purpose. 
Emily  was  not  wanting  in  expedient,  and  as  soon 
as  the  door  was  closed  and  the  bustle  a little  sub- 
si  led,  she  ate  wp  the  letter , piece  by  piece.  After 
a while  the  matron  arrived,  and  upon  searching 
carefully,  nothing  was  to  be  found  of  a suspicious 
nature  about  the  prisoner,  and  she  would  disclose 
aothing.  Suspicion  being  thus  allayed,  the  officer 
commanding  the  scouts  suffered  Emily  to  depart 

whither  she  said  she  was  bound;  but  she  took 
13 


194 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


a route  somewhat  circuitous  m avoid,  further  deten 
tion,  and  soon  after  struck  into  the  road  to  Sumter’s 
camp,  where  she  arrived  in  safety,  hmily  told  her 
adventure,  and  delivered  Green’s  verbal  message  to 
Sumter,  who,  in  consequence,  soon  after  joined  th 
main  army  at  Orangeburgh.” 


EACHEL  CALDWELL. 


— The  spell  is  thine  that  reaches 
The  heart. 


Halleck. 


Prudence  protects  and  guides  us. 

Young. 

Rachel  Caldwell  was  the  daughter  of  the  Rev. 
Alexander  Craighead  and  the  wife  of  David  Cald- 
well, D.  D.,  whose  history  is  somewhat  identified 
with  that  of  North  Carolina.  For  several  years  he 
was  at  the  head  of  a classical  school  at  Guilford 
in  that  state,  and  in  the  vocation  of  teacher  he 
had,  at  times,  the  efficient  aid  of  his  faithful  and 
talented  companion.  She  was  a woman  of  exalted 
piety ; and  such  a degree  of  success  attended  her 
“labor  of  love”  in  the  school,  that  it  became  a 
common  saying  that  “ Dr.  Caldwell  makes  the  scho- 
lars, and  Mrs.  Caldwell  makes  the  preachers.” 

More  than  once  during  the  Revolution,  the  house 
of  Dr.  Caldwell,  who  was  a stanch  friend  of  his 
country,  was  assailed  by  tories  :*  and  on  one  occa- 


* The  tories  not  only  destroyed  his  property,  but  drove  him  into  the 
woods,  where  he  was  often  obliged  to  pass  nights  ; and  some  of  his 


196 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


sion,  while  his  wife  was  alone  and  the  marauders 
were  collecting  plunder,  they  broke  open  a chest  or 
drawer  and  took  therefrom  a table-cloth  which  was 
the  gift  of  her  mother.  She  seized  it  the  moment 
the  soldier  had  it  fairly  in  his  hand,  and  made  an 
effort  to  wrest  it  from  him.  Finding  she  Would  be 
the  loser  in  a trial  of  physical  strength,  she  instinct- 
ively resorted  to  the  power  of  rhetoric.  With  her 
grasp  still  firm  on  the  precious  article,  she  turned 
to  the  rest  of  the  plunderers,  who  stood  awaiting 
the  issue  of  the  contest,  and  in  a beseeching  tone 
and  with  words  warm  with  eloquence,  asked  if 
some  of  their  number  had  not  wives  for  the  love  of 
whom  they  would  assist  her,  and  spare  the  one  dear 
memorial  of  a mother’s  affection ! Her  plea,  though 
short,  was  powerful,  and  actually  moved  one  man 
to  tears.  With  rills  of  sympathy  running  down 
his  cheeks,  he  assured  her  he  had  a wife  — a wife 
that  he  loved  — and  that  for  her  sake  the  table- 
cloth should  be  given  up.  This  was  accordingly 
done,  and  no  further  rudeness  was  offered. 

In  the  fall  of  1780,  a “ way-worn  and  weary” 
stranger,  bearing  dispatches  from  Washington  to 
Greene,  stopped  at  her  house  and  asked  for  suppei 
and  lodgings.  Before  he  had  eaten,  the  house  began 
to  be  surrounded  by  tories,  who  were  in  pursuit  of 


escapes  from  captivity  or  death  are  said  to  have  been  almost 
miraculous. — He  resumed  his  labors  as  teacher  and  pastor  after  the 
war;  and  continued  to  preach  till  his  ninety-sixth  year.  He  died 
in  1824,  at  the  age  of  ninety-nine.  His  wife  died  the  following  year 
in  the  eighty-seventh  of  her  age. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN.  IV  l 

him.  Mrs.  Caldwell  led  him  out  at  a back-door 
unseen  in  the  darkness,  and  ordered  him  to  climb 
a large  locust  tree,  and  there  remain  till  the  house 
was  plundered  and  the  pursuers  had  departed. 
He  did  so.  Mrs.  Caldwell  lost  her  property,  but 
her  calmness  and  prudence  saved  the  express, 
and  that  was  what  most  concerned  tne  patriotic 
woman. 


LHE  MOTHER  OF  RANDOLPH 


She  led  me  first  to  God ; 

Her  words  and  prayers  were  my  young  spirit’s  dew; 

For  when  she  used  to  leave 
The  fireside  every  eve, 

I knew  it  was  for  prayer  that  she  withdrew. 

Pierpont. 

The  biographers  of  John  Randolph  mention  the 
interesting  fact  that  his  mother  tanglit  him  to  pray. 
This  all-important  maternal  duty  made  an  impres- 
sion on  his  heart.  He  lived  at  a period  when 
skepticism  was  popular,  particularly  in  some  political 
circles  in  which  he  had  occasion  to  mingle;  and 
he  has  left  on  record  his  testimony  in  regard  to 
the  influence  of  his  mother’s  religious  instruction 
Speaking  of  the  subject  of  infidelity  to  an  intimate 
friend,  he  once  made  the  following  acknowledg- 
ment : 

u I believe  I should  have  been  swept  away  by  the 
flood  of  French  infidelity  if  it  had  not  been  for 
one  thing — the  remembrance  of  the  time  when  my 
sainted  mother  used  to  make  me  kneel  by  her  side, 
taking  my  little  hands  folded  in  hers,  and  cause  me 
to  repeat  the  Lord’s  Prayer.” 


CORNELIA  BEEKMAN. 


The  smallest  worm  will  turn  when  trodden  on, 

And  doves  will  peck,  in  safeguard  of  their  brood. 

Shakspeare. 


The  vaunts 

And  menace  of  the  vengeful  enemy 

Pass  like  the  gust,  that  roared  and  died  away 

In  the  distant  tree. 

Coleridge. 


Mrs/ Cornelia  Beckman  was  a daughter  of  Pierre 
Van  Cortlandt,  Lieutenant  Governor  of  New  York 
from  1777  to  1795;  and  she  seems  to  have  inhe- 
rited her  father’s  zeal  for  the  rights  of  his  country. 
She  was  born  at  the  Cortlandt  manor  house,  “an 
old  fashioned  stone  mansion  situated  on  the  banks 
of  the  Croton  river,”  in  1752 ; was  married  when 
about  seventeen  or  eighteen,  to  Gerard  G.  Beek- 
man ; and  died  on  the  fourteenth  of  March,  1847. 
A few  anecdotes  will  illustrate  the  noble  character- 
istics of  her  nature.* 

When  the  British  were  near  her  residence,  which 


* For  a fuller  account  of  her  life,  see  the  second  volume  of  Mrs. 
Ellet’s  Women  of  the  Revolution,  to  which  work  we  are  indebted 
for  the  substance  of  these  anecdotes. 


200 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


was  a short  distance  from  Peekskill,  a soldier  en- 
tered the  house  one  day  and  went  directly  to  the 
closet,  saying,  in  reply  to  a question  she  put  to  him, 
that  he  wanted  some  brandy.  She  reproved  him 
for  his  boldness  and  want  of  courtesy,  when  he 
threatened  to  stab  her  with  a bayonet.  Unalarmed 
by  his  oath-charged  threats  — although  an  old,  infirm 
negro  was  the  only  aid  at  hand  — she  in  turn  threat- 
ened him,  declaring  that  she  would  call  her  husband 
and  have  his  conduct  reported  to  his  commander. 
Her  sterness  and  intrepidity,  coupled  with  her  threats, 
subdued  the  insolent  coward,  and,  obeying  her  orders, 
he  marched  out  of  the  house. 

A party  of  tories,  under  command  of  Colonels 
Bayard  and  Fleming,  once  entered  her  house,  and, 
with  a great  deal  of  impudence  and  in  the  most 
insulting  tone,  asked  if  she  was  not  “the  daughter 
of  that  old  rebel,  Pierre  Yan  Cortlandt?55  “I  am 
the  daughter  of  Pierre  Yan  Cortlandt,  but  it  becomes 
not  such  as  you  to  call  my  father  a rebel,55  was  her 
dauntless  reply.  The  person  wTho  put  the  question 
now  raised  his  musket,  at  which  menacing  act,  she 
coolly  reprimanded  him  and  ordered  him  out  of 
doors.  His  heart  melted  beneath  the  fire  of  her  eye, 
and,  abashed,  he  sneaked  away. 

In  one  instance,  a man  named  John  Webb,  better 
known  at  that  time  as  “Lieutenant  Jack,55  left  in 
her  charge  a valise  which  contained  a new  suit 
of  uniform  and  some  gold.  He  stated  he  would 
send  for  it  when  he  wanted  it,  and  gave  her  par- 
ticular directions  not  to  deliver  it  to  any  one  without 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


201 


a written  order  from  himself  or  his  brother  Samuel 
About  two  weeks  afterwards,  a man  named  Smith 
rode  up  to  the  door  in  haste,  and  asked  her  husband, 
who  was  without,  for  Lieutenant  Jack’s  valise.  She 
knew  Smith,  and  had  little  confidence  in  his  pro- 
fessed whig  principles ; so  she  stepped  to  the  door 
and  reminded  her  husband  that  it  would  be  neces- 
sary for  the  messenger  to  show  his  order  before 
the  valise  could  be  given  up. 

“You  know  me  very  well,  Mrs.  Beekman;  and 
when  I assure  you  that  Lieutenant  Jack  sent  me 
for  the  valise,  you  will  not  refuse  to  deliver  it  to 
me,  as  he  is  greatly  in  want  of  his  uniform.” 

“I  do  know  you  very  well  — too  well  to  give  you 
the  valise  without  a written  order  from  the  owner 
or  the  Colonel.” 

Soon  after  this  brief  colloquy,  Smith  wen  away 
without  the  valise,  and  it  was  afterwards  asce  tained 
that  he  was  a rank  tory,  and  at  that  very  hour  in 
league  with  the  British.  Indeed  Major  Andre  was 
concealed  in  his  house  that  day,  and  had  Smith  got 
possession  of  Webb’s  uniform,  as  the  latter  and 
Andre  were  about  the  same  size,  it  is  likely  the 
celebrated  spy  would  have  escaped  and  changed 
the  reading  of  a brief  chapter  of  American  history. 
Who  can  tell  how  much  this  republic  is  indebted 
o the  prudence,  integrity,  courage  and  patriotism 
jf  Cornelia  Beekman? 


THE  MOTHER  OF  WEST. 


0 wondrous  power  I how  little  understood  — 

Entrusted  to  the  mother’s  mind  alone  — 

To  fashion  genius,  form  the  soul  for  good, 

Inspire  a West,  or  train  a Washington. 

Mrs.  Hale. 

WhiiM  Benjamin  West  was  seven  years  old,  he  waa 
left,  one  summer  day,  with  the  charge  of  an  infant 
niece.  As  it  lay  in  the  cradle  and  he  was  engaged  in 
fanning  away  the  flies,  the*  motion  of  the  fan  pleased 
the  child,  and  caused  it  to  smile.  Attracted  by  the 
charms  thus  created,  young  West  felt  his  instinctive 
passion  aroused ; and  seeing  paper,  pen  and  some  red 
and  black  ink  on  a table,  he  eagerly  seized  them  and 
made  his  first  attempt  at  portrait  painting.  Just  as 
he  had  finished  his  maiden  task,  his  mother  and  sis- 
ter entered.  He  tried  to  conceal  what  he  had  done, 
but  his  confusion  arrested  his  mother’s  attention,  and 
she  asked  him  what  he  had  been  doing.  With  reluc- 
tance and  timidity,  he  handed  her  the  paper,  begging, 
at  the  same  time,  that  she  would  not  be  offended. 
Examining  the  drawing  for  a short  time,  she  turned  to 
her  daughter  and,  with  a smile,  said,  “ I declare,  he 
Las  made  a likeness  of  Sally.”  She  then  gave  him  a 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


203 


fond  kiss,  which  so  encouraged  him  that  he  promised 
her  some  drawings  of  the  flowers  which  she  was  then 
holding,  if  she  wished  to  have  them. 

The  next  year  a cousin  sent  him  a box  of  colors  and 
pencils,  with  large  quantities  of  canvas  prepared  for 
the  easel,  and  half  a dozen  engravings.  Early  in  the 
morning  after  their  reception,  he  took  all  his  materials 
into  the  garret,  and  for  several  days  forgot  all  about 
school.  His  mother  suspected  that  the  box  was  the 
cause  of  his  neglect  of  his  books,  and  going  into  the 
garret  and  finding  him  busy  at  a picture,  she  was 
about  to  reprimand  him ; but  her  eye  fell  on  some  of 
his  compositions,  and  her  anger  cooled  at  once.  She 
was  so  pleased  with  them  that  she  loaded  him  with 
kisses  and  promised  to  secure  his  father’s  pardon  for 
his  neglect  of  school. 

How  much  the  world  is  indebted  to  Mrs.  West  for 
her  early  and  constant  encouragement  of  the  immor- 
tal artish  He  often  used  to  say,  after  his  reputation 
was  established,  “ My  mother's  hiss  made  me  a 
painter  ! ” 


HEROIC  ENDURANCE. 


* Tis  not  now  who  is  stout  and  bold, 

But  who  bears  hunger  best  and  cold. 

Butler. 

On  the  twenty-seventh  of  July,  1755,  Mrs.  Howe, 
of  Hinsdale,  New  Hampshire,  with  seven  children 
and  two  other  women  and  their  children,  was  taken 
captive  by  the  Indians,  and  marched  through  the 
wilderness  to  Crown  Point.  There  Mrs.  Howe,  with 
some  of  the  other  prisoners,  remained  several  days. 
The^rest  were  conducted  to  Montreal  to  be  sold,  but 
the  French  refusing  to  buy  them,  they  were  all 
brought  back,  except  Mrs.  Howe’s  youngest  daughter, 
who  was  presented  to  Governor  De  Vaudreuil. 

Ere  long  the  whole  party  started  for  St.  Johns 
by  water.  Night  soon  came  on ; a storm  arose ; 
the  darkness  became  intense;  the  canoes  separated, 
and  just  before  day  Mrs.  Howe  was  landed  on  the 
beach,  ignorant  of  the  destiny  of  her  children. 
Raising  a pillow  of  earth  with  her  hands,  she  laid^ 
herself  down  to  rest  with  her  infant  on  her  bosom. 
A toilsome  day’s  journey  brought  her  and  her  cap 
tors  to  St.  Johns,  and  pressing  onward  they  soon 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


205 


reached  St.  Francis,  the  home  of  the  latter.  A 
council  having  been  called  and  the  customary  cere- 
monies performed,  Mrs.  Howe,  with  her  infant  left 
to  her  care,  was  put  in  the  charge  of  a squaw, 
whom  she  was  ordered  to  call  mother. 

u At  the  approach  of  winter,  the  squaw,  yielding 
to  her  earnest  solicitations,  set  out  with  Mrs.  Howe 
and  her  child,  for  Montreal,  to  sell  them  to  the 
French.  On  the  journey  both  she  and  her  infant 
were  in  danger  of  perishing  from  hunger  and  cold ; 
the  lips  of  the  child  being  at  times  so  benumbed, 
as  to  be  incapable  of  imbibing  its  proper  nourish- 
ment. After  her  arrival  in  the  city,  she  was  offered 
to  a French  lady ; who,  seeing  the  child  in  her 
arms,  exclaimed,  CI  will  not  buy  a woman,  who 
has  a child  to  look  after.’  I shall  not  attempt 
to  describe  the  feelings  with  which  this  rebuff  was 
received  by  a person  wdio  had  no  higher  ambi- 
tion than  to  become  a slave.  Few  of  our  race  have 
hearts  made  of  such  unyielding  materials,  as  not 
to  be  broken  by  long-continued  abuse;  and  Mrs. 
Howe  was  not  one  of  this  number.  Chilled  with 
cold,  and  pinched  with  hunger,  she  saw  in  the  kitchen 
of  this  inhospitable  house  some  small  pieces  of  bread, 
floating  in  a pail  amid  other  fragments,  destined  to 
feed  swine;  and  eagerly  skimmed  them  for  herself. 
When  her  Indian  mother  found  that  she  could  not 
dispose  of  her,  she  returned  by  water  to  St.  Francis, 
where  she  soon  died  of  small  pox,  which  she  had 
caught  at  Montreal.  Speedily  after,  the  Indians 
commenced  their  winter  hunting.  Mrs.  Howe  was 


206 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


then  ordered  to  return  her  child  to  the  captors. 
The  babe  clung  to  her  bosom ; and  she  was  obliged 
to  force  it  away.  They  carried  it  to  a place  called 
4 Messiskow,’  on  the  borders  of  the  river  Missiscoui, 
near  the  north  end  of  lake  Champlain  upon  the 
eastern  shore.  The  mother  soon  followed,  and  found 
it  neglected,  lean,  and  almost  perishing  with  hunger. 
As  she  pressed  its  face  to  her  cheek,  the  eager, 
half-starved  infant  bit  her  with  violence.  For  three 
nights  she  was  permitted  to  cherish  it  in  her  bosom ; 
but  in  the  day-time  she  was  confined  to  a neighboring 
wigwam,  where  she  was  compelled  to  hear  its  un- 
ceasing cries  of  distress,  without  a possibility  of 
contributing  to  its  relief. 

44  The  third  day  the  Indians  carried  her  several 
miles  up  the  lake.  The  following  night  she  was 
alarmed  by  what  is  usually  called  the  great  earth- 
quake, which  shook  the  region  around  her  with  violent 
concussions.  Here,  also,  she  was  deserted  for  two 
nights  in  an  absolute  wilderness;  and,  when  her 
Indian  connections  returned,  was  told  by  them  that 
two  of  her  children  were  dead.  Yery  soon  after, 
she  received  certain  information  of  the  death  of 
her  infant.  Amid  the  anguish  awakened  by  these 
melancholy  tidings,  she  saw  a distant  volume  of 
smoke ; and  was  strongly  inclined  to  make  her 
way  to  the  wigwam  from  which  it  ascended.  As 
she  entered  the  door,  she  met  one  of  the  children, 
reported  to  be  dead;  and  to  her  great  consolation 
found  that  he  was  in  comfortable  circumstances.  A 
good-natured  Indian  soon  after  informed  her,  that 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


207 


the  other  was  alive  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
lake,  at  the  distance  of  a few  miles  only.  Upon 
this  information  she  obtained  leave  to  be  absent 
for  a single  day;  and,  with  the  necessary  direc- 
tions from  her  informant,  set  out  for  the  place. 
On  her  way  she  found  her  child,  lean  and  hungry, 
and  proceeded  with  it  to  the  wigwam.  A small 
piece  of  bread,  presented  to  her  by  the  Indian  family 
in  which  she  lived,  she  had  carefully  preserved  for 
this  unfortunate  boy;  but,  to  avoid  offending  the 
family  in  which  he  lived,  was  obliged  to  distribute 
it  in  equal  shares  to  all  the  children.  The  little 
creature  had  been  transported  at  the  sight  of  his 
mother;  and,  when  she  announced  her  departure, 
fell  at  her  feet,  as  if  he  had  been  dead.  Yet  she 
was  compelled  to  leave  him;  and  satisfied  herself, 
as  far  as  she  was  able,  by  commending  him  to 
the  protection  of  God.  The  family  in  which  she 
lived,  passed  the  following  summer  at  St.  Johns. 
It  was  composed  of  the  daughter  and  son-in-law  of 
her  late  mother.  The  son-in-law  went  out  early  in 
the  season  on  an  expedition  against  the  English  set- 
tlements. At  their  return,  the  party  had  a drinking 
frolic,  their  usual  festival  after  excursions  of  this 
nature.  Drunkenness  regularly  enhances  the  bodily 
strength  of  a savage,  and  stimulates  his  mind  to 
madness.  In  this  situation  he  will  insult,  abuse, 
and  not  unfrequently  murder,  his  nearest  friends. 
The  wife  of  this  man  had  often  been  a sufferer  by 
his  intemperance.  She  therefore  proposed  to  Mrs. 
Howe  that  they  should  withdraw  themselves  from 


208 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


the  wigwam  until  die  effects  of  his  present  intoxi 
cation  were  over.  They  accordingly  withdrew.  Mrs. 
Howe  returned  first,  and  found  him  surly  and  ill- 
natured,  because  his  wife  was  absent.  In  the 
violence  of  his  resentment  he  took  Mrs.  Howe, 
hurried  her  to  St.  Johns,  and  sold  her  for  a trifling 
sum  to  a French  gentleman,  named  Saccapee. 

“ Upon  a little  reflection,  however,  the  Indian 
perceived  that  he  had  made  a foolish  bargain.  In 
a spirit  of  resentment  he  threatened  to  assassinate 
Mrs.  Howe ; and  declared  that  if  he  could  not 
accomplish  his  design,  he  would  set  fire  to  the 
fort.  She  was  therefore  carefully  secreted,  and  the 
fort  watchfully  guarded,  until  the  violence  of  his 
passion  was  over.  When  her  alarm  was  ended, 
she  found  her  situation  as  happy  in  the  family,  as 
a state  of  servitude  would  permit.  Her  new  master 
and  mistress  were  kind,  liberal,  and  so  indulgent 
as  rarely  to  refuse  anything  that  she  requested.  In 
this  manner  they  enabled  her  frequently  to  befriend 
other  English  prisoners,  who,  from  time  to  time,  were 
brought  to  St.  Johns. 

“Yet  even  in  this  humane  family  she  met  with 
new  trials.  Monsieur  Saccapee,  and  his  son,  an 
officer  in  the  French  army,  became  at  the  same  time 
passionately  attached  to  her.  This  singular  fact  is 
a forcible  proof  that  her  person,  mind,  and  man- 
ners, were  unusually  agreeable.  Nor  was  her  situa- 
tion less  perplexing  than  singular.  The  good  will 
of  the  whole  family  was  indispensable  to  her  comfort, 
if  not  to  her  safety;  and  her  purity  she  was  deter- 
mined to  preserve  at  the  hazard  .of  her  life.  In  the 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


209 


house  where  both  her  lovers  resided,  conversed  with 
her  every  day,  and,  together  with  herself,  vere 
continually  under  the  eye  of  her  mistress,  the  lovers 
a father  and  a son,  herself  a slave,  and  one  of 
them  her  master,  it  will  be  easily  believed  that 
she  met  with  very  serious  embarrassments  in  accom- 
plishing her  determination.  In  this  situation  she 
made  known  her  misfortunes  to  Colonel  Peter 
Schuyler  of  Albany,  then  a prisoner  at  St.  Johns. 
As  soon  as  he  had  learned  her  situation  he  repre- 
sented it  to  the  Governor  De  Vaudreuil.  The 
Governor  immediately  ordered  young  Saccapee  into 
the  army;  and  enjoined  on  his  father  a just  and 
kind  treatment  of  Mrs.  Howe.  His  humanity  did 
not  stop  here.  Being  informed  that  one  of  her 
daughters  was  in  danger  of  being  married  to  an 
Indian  of  St.  Francis,  he  rescued  her  from  this 
miserable  destiny,  and  placed  her  in  a nunnery 
with  her  sister.  Here  they  were  both  educated  as 
his  adopted  children. 

“By  the  good  offices  of  Colonel  Schuyler,  also, 
who  advanced  twenty-seven  hundred  livres  for  that 
purpose,  and  by  the  assistance  of  several  other 
gentlemen,  she  was  enabled  to  ransom  herself,  and 
her  four  sons.  With  these  children  she  set  out  for 
New  England  in  the  autumn  of  1758,  under  the 
protection  of  Colonel  Schuyler,  leaving  her  two 
daughters  behind.*  As  she  was  crossing  lake  Cham- 

* After  the  treaty  of  peace  at  Paris,  Mrs.  Howe  went  to  Canada 
and  brought  home  the  younger  daughter,  who  left  the  nunnery  with 
a great  deal  of  reluctance.  The  older  went  to  France  with  Monsieur 
He  Vaudreuil,  and  was  there  married  to  a man  named  Louis. 

14 


210 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


plain,  young  Saccapee  came  on  board  the  boat,  in 
which  she  was  conveyed;  gave  her  a handsome 
present;  and  bade  her  adieu.  Colonel  Schuyler 
being  obliged  to  proceed  to  Albany  with  more  ex- 
pedition than  was  convenient  for  his  fellow  travelers, 
left  them  in  the  care  of  Major  Putnam,  afterwards 
Major-General  Putnam.  From  this  gentleman  she 
received  every  kind  office,  which  his  well  known 
humanity  could  furnish;  and  arrived  without  any 
considerable  misfortune  at  the  place  of  their  des* 
tination.”  * 


Dwight’s  Travels. 


MATERNAL  HEROISM 


Is  there  a man,  into  the  lion’s  den 

Who  dares  intrude  to  snatch  his  young  away  ? 

Thomson, 

During  the  campaign  of  1777,  a soldier  of  the 
Fifty-fifth  regiment  was  sitting  with  his  wife  at 
breakfast,  when  a bomb  entered  the  tent,  and  fell 
between  the  table  and  a bed  where  their  infant 
was  sleeping.  The  mother  urged  her  husband  to  go 
round  the  bomb  and  seize  the  child,  his  dress  being, 
from  the  position  of  things,  more  favorable  than  hers 
for  the  prosecution  of  the  dangerous  task:  but  he 
refused,  and  running  out  of  the  tent,  begged  his 
wife  tc  follow,  saying  that  the  fusee  was  just  ready 
to  communicate  with  the  deadly  combustibles.  The 
fond  mother,  instead  of  obeying,  hastily  tucked  up 
her  garments  to  prevent  their  coming  in  contact 
with  the  bomb;  leaped  past  it;  caught  the  child, 
and  in  a moment  was  out  of  danger. 

In  December,  1850,  the  house  of  Peter  Knight, 
of'  Bath,  Maine,  caught  fire,  and  a small  child,  asleep 
in  the  room  where  the  flames  burst  out,  would  have 
perished  but  for  the  self-possession  and  daring  of  its 


212 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


mother.  One  or  two  unsuccessful  attempts  had  been 
made  by  others  to  rescue  it,  when  the  mother,  always 
the  last  to  despair,  made  a desperate  effort,  and  se 
cured  the  prize.  When  the  two  were  taken  from 
the  window  of  the  second  story,  the  dress  of  Mrs 
Knight  was  in  flames ! 


A MODERN  DORCAS. 


* Tis  truth  divine,  exhibited  on  earth, 

Gives  charity  her  being. 

Cowper. 

isabeila,  the  wife  of  Dr.  John  Graham,  was  born 
ii  Scotland,  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  July,  1742.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen  she  became  a member  of  the 
church  in  Paisley  of  wThich  the  Eev.  Dr.  Witherspoon, 
afterwards  President  of  Princeton  college,  was  the 
pastor.  Dr.  Graham  was  a physician  of  the  same 
town.  Her  marriage  took  place  in  1765.  The  next 
year  Dr.  Graham  was  ordered  to  join  his  regiment 
then  stationed  in  Canada.  After  spending  a few 
months  at  Montreal,  he  removed  to  Fort  Niagara, 
where  he  remained  in  the  garrison  four  years. 

Just  before  the  Revolutionary  war  the  sixteenth 
regiment  of  Royal  Americans  was  ordered  to  the 
island  of  Antigua.  Thither  Dr.  Graham  removed 
with  his  family,  and  there  he  died  in  1774.  Mrs. 
Graham  then  returned  to  her  native  land. 

In  1789  she  came  to  this  country,  and  permanently 
settled  in  the  city  of  New  York.  She  there  opened 
a school  for  young  ladies,  and  gained  a high  repute* 


214 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


tion  in  her  profession.  She  united  with  the  Pres* 
byterian  church  of  which  John  Mason,  D.  D.,  was 
pastor,  and  was  noted,  through  all  the  latter  years 
of  her  life,  for  the  depth  of  her  piety  and  her 
Christian  benevolence.  She  made  it  a rule  to  give 
a tenth  part  of  her  earnings  to  religious  and 
charitable  purposes.  In  1795  she  received,  at  one 
time,  an  advance  of  a thousand  pounds  on  the  sale 
of  a lease  which  she  held  on  some  building  lots; 
and  not  being  used  to  such  large  profits,  she  said, 
on  receiving  the  money,  “ Quick,  quick,  let  me  ap- 
propriate the  tenth  before  my  heart  grows  hard.” 
Two  years  afterwards,  a society  was  organized  and 
chartered,  for  the  relief  of  poor  widows ; and 
Mrs.  Graham  was  appointed  first  directress.  Each 
of  the  managers  had  a separate  district,  and  she 
had  the  superintendence  of  the  whole.  A house  was 
purchased  by  the  society,  where  work  was  received 
for  the  employment  of  the  widows ; and  a school 
was  opened  for  the  instruction  of  their  children. 
u Besides  establishing  this  school,  Mrs.  Graham  se- 
lected some  of  the  widows,  best  qualified  for  the 
task,  and  engaged  them,  for  a small  compensation, 
to  open  day  schools  for  the  instruction  of  the  child- 
ren of  widows,  in  distant  parts  of  the  city:  she 
ilso  established  two  Sabbath  schools,  one  of  which 
she  superintended  herself,  and  the  other  she  placed 
under  the  care  of  her  daughter.  Wherever  she  met 
with  Christians  sick  and  in  poverty,  she  visited  and 
comforted  them ; and  in  some  instances  opened 
small  subscription  lists  to  provide  for  their  support. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


215 


Site  attended  occasionally  for  some  years  at  the 
Alms  House  for  the  instruction  of  the  children  there, 
in  religious  knowledge:  in  this  work  she  was  much 
assisted  by  a humble  and  pious  female  friend,  who 
was  seldom  absent  from  it  on  the  Lord’s  day. 

“It  was  often  her  custom  to  leave  home  after 
breakfast,  to  take  with  her  a few  rolls  of  bread, 
and  return  in  the  evening  about  eight  o’clock.  Her 
only  dinner  on  such  days  was  her  bread,  and  per- 
haps some  soup  at  the  Soup  House,  established  by 
the  Humane  Society  for  the  poor,  over  which  one 
of  her  widows  had  been,  at  her  recommendation, 
appointed.”  * 

In  the  winter  of  1804-5,  before  a Tract  or  Bible 
Society  had  been  formed  in  New  York,  she  visited 
between  two  and  three  hundred  of  the  poorer  families, 
and  supplied  them  with  a Bible  where  they  were 
destitute.  She  also  distributed  tracts  which  were 
written,  at  her  request,  by  a friend,  “and  lest  it 
might  be  said  it  was  cheap  to  give  advice,  she 
usually  gave  a small  sum  of  money  along  with 
the  tracts.” 

On  the  fifteenth  of  March,  1806,  a society  was 
organized  in  New  York  for  providing  an  Asylum 
for  Orphan  Children;  and  Mrs.  Graham  occupied 
the  chair  on  the  occasion.  Her  sympathies  were 
strongly  enlisted  in  this  organization,  and  she  was 
one  of  the  trustees  at  the  time  of  her  death. 

“In  the  winter  of  1807-8,  when  the  suspension 


* Mrs.  Bethune’s  Life  of  Mrs.  Graham,  abridged. 


216 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


of  commerce  by  the  embargo,  rendered  the  situ- 
ation of  the  poor  more  destitute  than  ever,  Mrs. 
Graham  adopted  a plan  best  calculated  in  her  view 
to  detect  the  idle  applicant  for  charity,  and  at  the 
same  time  to  furnish  employment  for  the  more  wor- 
thy amongst  the  female  poor.  She  purchased  flax, 
and  lent  wheels  where  applicants  had  none.  Such 
as  were  industrions  took  the  work  with  thankful- 
ness, and  were  paid  for  it ; those  who  were  beggars 
by  profession,  never  kept  their  w^ord  to  return  for 
the  flax  or  the  wheel.  The  flax  thus  spun  was  af- 
terwards woven,  bleached,  and  made  into  table-cloths 
and  towels  for  family  use.”  * 

When  the  Magdalen  Society  was  established  by 
some  gentlemen,  in  1811,  a board  of  ladies  was  elec- 
ted for  the  purpose  of  superintending  the  internal 
management  of  the  house ; and  Mrs.  Graham  was 
chosen  President.  This  oflice  she  continued  to  hold 
till  her  death.  The  next  year  the  trustees  of  the 
Lancasterian  School  solicited  the  services  of  several 
women  to  instruct  the  pupils  in  the  catechism.  Mrs. 
Graham  cheerfully  assisted  in  this  task,  instruction 
being  given  one  afternoon  in  each  week. 

“ In  the  spring  of  1814  she  was  requested  to  unite 
with  some  ladies,  in  forming  a Society  for  the  Pro- 
motion of  Industry  amongst  the  poor.  The  Corpora- 
tion of  the  city  having  returned  a favorable  answer 
to  their  petition  for  assistance,  and  provided  a house, 
a meeting  of  the  Society  was  held,  and  Mrs.  Graham 
once  more  was  calied  to  the  chair.  It  was  the  last 


Mrs.  Bethune. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


217 


time  she  was  to  preside  at  the  formation  of  a new 
society.  Her  articulation,  once  strong  and  clear,  was 
now  observed  to  have  become  more  feeble.  The 
ladies  present  listened  to  her  with  affectionate  atten- 
tion; her  voice  broke  upon  the  ear  as  a pleasant 
sound  that  was  passing  away.  She  consented  to  have 
her  name  inserted  in  the  list  of  managers,  to  give 
what  assistance  her  age  would  permit  in  forwarding 
so  beneficent  a work.  Although  it  pleased  God  to 
make  her  cease  from  her  labors,  before  the  House 
of  Industry  was  opened,  yet  the  work  was  carried 
on  by  others,  and  prospered.  Between  four  and  five 
hundred  women  were  employed  and  paid  during  the 
following  winter.  The  Corporation  declared  in  strong 
terms  their  approbation  of  the  result,  and  enlarged 
their  donation,  with  a view  to  promote  the  same 
undertaking  for  the  succeeding  winter.55 

Mrs.  Graham  died  on  the  twenty-seventh  of  July, 
1814.  Of  no  woman  of  the  age  may  it  be  said  with 
more  propriety,  as  it  was  of  Dorcas:  “This  woman 
was  full  of  good  works  and  alms-deeds,  which  she 
did.55  Yet  few  women  are  more  humble  than  was 
Mrs.  Graham,  or  think  less  of  their  benevolent  deeds. 
Her  daughter,  Mrs.  Bethune,  writing  of  her  decease, 
says  that  she  departed  in  peace,  not  trusting  in  her 
wisdom  or  virtue,  like  the  philosophers  of  Greece  and 
Rome ; not  even,  like  Addison,  calling  on  the  profli- 
gate to  see  a good  man  die ; but,  like  Howard,  afraid 
that  her  good  works  might  have  a wrong  place  in  the 
estimate  of  her  hope,  her  chief  glory  was  that  of  a 
“ sinner  saved  by  grace.55 


SARAH  HOFFMAR. 


Still  to  a stricken  brother  turn. 

Whittier. 

In  the  act  of  incorporation  of  the  Widow’s  Society, 
established  in  the  city  of  New  York,  in  1797,  with 
the  name  of  Mrs.  Graham,  is  associated  that  of  Mrs. 
Sarah  Hoffman.  This  lady  was  the  daughter  of 
David  Ogden,  one  of  the  judges  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  New  Jersey,  before  the  elevation  of  the 
provinces  into  states.  She  was  born  at  Newark,  on 
the  eighth  of  September,  1742;  and  married  Nicho- 
las Hoffman,  in  1762.  She  early  took  delight  in 
doing  good,  being  thus  prompted  by  deep  religious 
principle.  Cautious  and  discriminating,  her  chari- 
ties were  bestowed  judiciously,  and  she  was  able  to 
do  much  good  without  the  largest  means.  In  her 
benevolent  operations,  however,  she  usually  acted  in 
an  associated  capacity. 

As  already  intimated,  she  was  a member  of  the 
society  formed  “ for  the  relief  of  poor  widows  with 
small  children.”  That  this  institution  prospered  un- 
dei  the  control  of  such  women  as  Mrs.  Hoffman  and 
Mrs.  Graham,  may  be  inferred  from  their  report 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


219 


made  in  April,  1803.  “ Ninety-eight  widows  and 

two  hundred  and  'twenty-three  children,55  this  docu- 
ment states,  “ were  brought  through  the  severity  of 
the  winter  with  a considerable  degree  of  comfort.55 

Mrs.  Hoffman,  Mrs.  Graham  and  their  associates, 
often  perambulated  the  districts  of  poverty  and  dis- 
ease, from  morning  till  night,  entering  the  huts  of 
want  and  desolation,  and  carrying  comfort  and  con- 
solation to  many  a despairing  heart.  They  clambered 
to  the  highest  and  meanest  garrets,  and  descended 
to  the  lowest,  darkest  and  dankest  cellars,  to  admi- 
nister to  the  wants  of  the  destitute,  the  sick,  and  the 
dying.  They  took  with  them  medicine  as  well  as 
food;  and  were  accustomed  to  administer  Christian 
counsel  or  consolation,  as  the  case  required,  to  the 
infirm  in  body  and  the  wretched  in  heart.  They 
even  taught  many  poor  creatures,  who  seemed  to 
doubt  the  existence  of  an  overruling  Providence,  to 
pray  to  Him  whose  laws  they  had  broken  and 
thereby  rendered  themselves  miserable.* 

In  Mrs.  Hoffman’s  character,  to  tenderness  of  feel- 
ing were  added  great  firmness,  strength  of  mind, 
and  moral  courage.  She  was  often  seen  in  the  midst 
of  contagion  and  suffering  where  the  cheek  of  the 
warrior  would  blanch  with  fear.  She  exposed  her 
own  life,  however,  not  like  the  warrior,  to  destroy, 
but  to  save ; and  hundreds  were  saved  by  her  humane 
efforts,  combined  with  those  of  her  co-workers.  Her 


* Knapp’s  Female  Biography. 


220 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


life  beautifully  exemplified  the  truth  of  what  Crabbe 
says  of  woman : 

In  extremes  of  cold  and  heat* 

Where  wandering  man  may  trace  his  kind ; 

Wherever  grief  and  want  retreat, 

In  woman  they  compassion  find. 

And  if,  as  the  poet  Grainger  asserts, 

The  height  of  virtue  is  to  serve  mankind, 

Mrs.  Hoffman  reached  a point  towards  which  rnanj 
aspire,  but  above  which  few  ascend. 


HEROISM  OF  SCHOHARIE  WOMEN. 


Invaders  I vain  your  battles’  steel  and  fire. 

Halleck. 

During  the  struggle  for  Independence,  there  were 
three  noted  forts  in  the  Schoharie  settlement,  called 
the  Upper,  Middle  and  Lower;  and  when,  in  the 
autumn  of  1780,  Sir  John  Johnson  sallied  forth  from 
Niagara,  with  his  five  hundred  or  more  British,  tory 
and  German  troops,  and  made  an  attack  on  these 
forts,  an  opportunity  was  given  for  the  display  of 
patriotism  and  courage,  as  well  by  the  women  of  the 
settlement  as  by  the  men. 

When  the  Middle  fort  was  invested,  an  heroic  and 
noted  ranger  named  Murphy,  used  his  rifle  balls  so 
fast  as  to  need  an  additional  supply ; and,  anticipa- 
ting his  wants,  Mrs.  Angelica  Yrooman  caught  his 
bullet  mould,  some  lead  and  an  iron  spoon,  ran  to  her 
father’s  tent,  and  there  moulded  a quantity  of  bullets 
amid 

“ the  shout 

Of  battle,  the  barbarian  yell,  the  bray 
Of  dissonant  instruments,  the  clang  of  arms, 

The  shriek  of  agony,  the  groan  of  death.” 

While  the  firing  was  kept  up  at  the  Middle  fort, 


222 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


great  anxiety  prevailed  at  the  Upper;  and  during 
this  time  Captain  Hager,  who  commanded  the  latter, 
gave  orders  that  the  women  and  children  should 
retire  to  a long  cellar,  which  he  specified,  should  the 
enemy  attack  him.  A young  lady  named  Mary  Hag- 
gidorn,  on  hearing  these  orders,  went  to  Captain 
Hager  and  addressed  him  as  follows : — “ Captain,  I 
shall  not  go  into  that  cellar.  Should  the  enemy 
come,  I will  take  a spear,  which  I can  use  as  well  as 
any  man , and  help  defend  the  fort.”  The  Captain, 
seeing  her  determination,  made  the  following  reply: 
— “Then  take  a spear,  Mary,  and  be  ready  at  the 
pickets  to  repel  an  attack.”  She  cheerfully  obeyed, 
and  held  the  spear  at  the  picket,  till  “ huzzas  for 
tbe  American  flag”  burst  on  her  ear,  and  told  that 
all  was  safe.* 


Vide  History  of  Schoharie  county,  p.  410 — II. 


A STERLING  PATRIOT. 


With  nerve  to  wield  the  battle-brand, 

And  join  the  border-fray, 

They  shrank  not  from  the  foeman, 

They  quailed  not  in  the  fight, 

But  cheered  their  husbands  through  the  day, 

And  soothed  them  through  the  night. 

W.  D.  Gallagher. 

The  most  noted  heroine  of  the  Mohawk  valley,  and 
one  of  the  bravest  and  noblest  mothers  of  the  Revo- 
lution, was  Nancy  Van  Alstine.  Her  maiden  name 
was  Quackinbush.  She  was  born  near  Canajoharie, 
about  the  year  1733,  and  was  married  to  Martin  J. 
Van  Alstine,  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  He  settled  in 
the  valley  of  the  Mohawk,  and  occupied  the  Van 
Alstine  family  mansion.  Mrs.  Van  Alstine  was  the 
mother  of  fifteen  children.  She  died  at  Wampsville, 
Madison  county,  in  1831. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1780,  an  army  of  Indians 
and  tories,  led  on  by  Brant,  rushed  into  the  Mohawk 
valley,  devastated  several  settlements,  and  killed 
many  of  the  inhabitants  : and  during  the  two  follow- 
ing months,  Sir  John  Johnson,  made  a descent  and 
finished  the  work  which  Brant  had  begun.  The  two 


224 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


almost  completely  destroyed  the  settlements  through 
out  the  valley.  It  was  during  those  trying  times 
that  Mrs.  Yan  Alstine  performed  a portion  of  her 
heroic  exploits  which  are  so  interestingly  related  by 
Mrs.  Ellet. 

“ While  the  enemy,  stationed  at  Johnstown,  were 
laying  waste  the  country,  parties  continually  going 
about  to  murder  the  inhabitants  and  burn  their 
dwellings,  the  neighborhood  in  which  Mrs.  Yan  Al- 
stine lived  remained  in  comparative  quiet,  though 
the  settlers  trembled  as  each  sun  arose,  lest  his  set- 
ting beams  should  fall  on  their  ruined  homes.  Most 
of  the  men  were  absent,  and  when,  at  length,  intelli- 
gence came  that  the  destroyers  were  approaching,  the 
people  w'ere  almost  distracted  with  terror.  Mrs.  Yan 
Alstine  called  her  neighbors  together,  endeavored  to 
calm  their  fears,  and  advised  them  to  make  imme- 
diate arrangements  for  removing  to  an  island,  belong- 
ing to  her  husband,  near  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river.  She  knew  that  the  spoilers  would  be  in  too 
great  haste  to  make  any  attempt  to  cross,  and 
thought  if  some  articles  were  removed,  they  might 
be  induced  to  suppose  the  inhabitants  gone  to  a 
greater  distance.  The  seven  families  in  the  neigh- 
borhood were  in  a few  hours  upon  the  island, 
having  taken  with  them  many  things  necessary  for 
their  comfort  during  a short  stay.  Mrs.  Yan  Al- 
stine remained  herself  to  the  last,  then  crossed  in 
the  boat,  helping  to  draw  it  far  up  on  the  beach. 
Scarcely  had  they  secreted  themselves  before  they 
heard  the  dreaded  warwhoop,  and  descried  the  Indian* 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


225 


m tht  distance.  It  was  not  long  before  one  and  ano- 
ther saw  the  homes  they  loved  in  flames.  When  the 
savages  came  to  Yan  Alstine’s  house,  they  were  about 
to  fire  that  also,  but  the  chief,  interfering,  informed 
them  that  Sir  John  would  not  be  pleased  if  that 
house  were  burned  — the  owner  having  extended  civi- 
lities to  the  baronet  before  the  commencement  of 
hostilities.  c Let  the  old  wolf  keep  his  den,5  he  said, 
and  the  house  was  left  unmolested.  The  talking  of 
the  Indians  could  be  distinctly  heard  from  the  island, 
and  Mrs.  Yan  Alstine  rejoiced  that  she  was  thus 
enabled  to  give  shelter  to  the  houseless  families  who 
had  fled  with  her.  The  fugitives,  however,  did  not 
deem  it  prudent  to  leave  their  place  of  concealment 
for  several  days,  the  smoke  seen  in  different  direc- 
tions too  plainly  indicating  that  the  work  of  devas- 
tation was  going  on. 

“ The  destitute  families  remained  at  Yan  Alstine’s 
house  till  it  was  deemed  prudent  to  rebuild  their 
homes.  Later  in  the  following  autumn  an  incident 
occurred  which  brought  much  trouble  upon  them. 
Three  men  from  the  neighborhood  of  Canajoharie, 
who  had  deserted  the  whig  cause  and  joined  the 
British,  came  back  from  Canada  as  spies,  and  were 
detected  and  apprehended.  Their  execution  followed ; 
two  were  shot,  and  one,  a bold,  adventurous  fellow, 
named  Harry  Harr,  was  hung  in  Mr.  Yan  Alstine’s 
orchard.  Their  prolonged  absence  causing  some 
uneasiness  to  their  friends  in  Canada,  some  Indians 
were  sent  to  reconnoitre  and  learn  something  of  them. 
It  happened  that  they  arrived  on  the  day  of  Harr's 
15 


226 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


execution,  which  they  witnessed  from  a neighboring 
hill.  They  returned  immediately  with  the  Lfforma 
tion,  and  a party  was  dispatched — -it  is  said  by 
Brant  — to  revenge  the  death  of  the  spies  upon  the 
inhabitants.  Their  continued  shouts  of  4 Aha,  Harry 
Harr !’  while  engaged  in  pillaging  and  destroying, 
showed  that  such  was  their  purpose.  In  their  pro- 
gress of  devastation,  they  came  to  the  house  of  Yan 
Alstine,  where  no  preparations  had  been  made  for 
defence,  the  family  not  expecting  an  attack,  or  not 
being  a vare  of  the  near  approach  of  the  enemy. 
Mrs.  Van  Alstine  was  personally  acquainted  with 
Brant,  and  it  may  have  been  owing  to  this  circum- 
stance that  the  members  of  the  family  were  not 
killed  or  carried  away  as  prisoners.  The  Indians 
came  upon  them  by  surprise,  entered  the  house 
without  ceremony,  and  plundered  and  destroyed 
everything  in  their  way.  Mrs.  Yan  Alstine  saw  her 
most  valued  articles,  brought  from  Holland,  broken 
one  after  another,  till  the  house  was  strewed  with 
fragments.  As  they  passed  a large  mirror  without 
demolishing  it,  she  hoped  it  might  be  saved  ; but 
presently  two  of  the  savages  led  in  a colt  from  the 
stable,  and  the  glass  being  laid  in  the  hall,  com- 
pelled the  animal  to  walk  over  it.  The  beds  which 
they  could  not  carry  away,  they  ripped  open,  sha- 
king out  the  feathers  and  taking  the  ticks  with  them. 
They  also  took  all  the  clothing.  One  young  Indian, 
attracted  by  the  brilliancy  of  a pair  of  inlaid  buckles 
on  the  shoes  of  the  aged  grandmother  seated  in  the 
corner,  rudely  snatched  them  from  her  feet,  tore  off 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


227 


tn e buckles,  and  flung  the  shoes  in  her  face.  Ano 
ther  took  her  shawl  from  her  neck,  threatening  to 
-kill  her  if  resistance  were  offered.  The  eldest 
daughter,  seeing  a young  savage  carrying  off  a bas- 
ket containing  a hat  and  cap  her  father  had  brought 
her  from  Philadelphia,  and  which  she  highly  prized, 
followed  him,  snatched  her  basket,  and  after  a 
struggle  succeeded  in  pushing  him  down.  She  then 
fled  to  a pile  of  hemp  and  hid  herself,  throwing 
the  basket  into  it  as  far  as  she  could.  The  other 
Indians  gathered  round,  and  as  the  young  one  rose 
clapped  their  hands,  shouting  4 Brave  girl  P while 
he  skulked  away  to  escape  their  derision.  During 
the  struggle  Mrs.  Yan  Alstine  had  called  to  her 
daughter  to  give  up  the  contest ; but  she  insisted 
that  her  basket  should  not  be  taken.  Having  gone 
through  the  house,  the  intruders  went  up'  to  the 
kitchen  chamber,  where  a quantity  of  cream  in  large 
jars  had  been  brought  from  the  dairy,  and  threw 
the  jars  down  stairs,  covering  the  floor  with  thtw 
contents.  They  then  broke  the  window  glass  through- 
out the  house,  and  unsatisfied  with  the  plunder  they 
had  collected,  bribed  a man  servant  by  the  promise 
of  his  clothes  and  a portion  of  the  booty  to  show 
them  where  some  articles  had  been  hastily  secreted. 
Mrs.  Yan  Alstine  had  just  finished  cutting  out  win- 
ter clothing  for  her  family — which  consisted  of  her 
mother-in-law,  her  husband  and  twelve  children,  with 
two  black  servants  — and  had  stowed  it  away  in 
barrels.  The  servant  treacherously  disclosed  the  hi- 
ding place,  and  the  clothing  was  soon  added  to  the 


228 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


rest  of  the  booty.  Mrs.  Van  Alstine  reproached  the 
man  for  his  perfidy,  which  she  assured  him  would  be 
punished,  not  rewarded  by  the  savages,  and  her  words 
were  verified ; for  after  they  had  forced  him  to  assist 
in  securing  their  plunder,  they  bound  him  and  put 
him  in  one  of  their  wagons,  telling  him  his  treachery 
to  the  palefaces  deserved  no  better  treatment. 
The  provisions  having  been  carried  away,  the  family 
subsisted  on  corn,  which  they  pounded  and  made 
into  cakes.  They  felt  much  the  want  of  clothing, 
and  Mrs.  Van  Alstine  gathered  the  silk  of  milk- 
weed, of  which,  mixed  with  flax,  she  spun  and  wove 
garments.  The  inclement  season  was  now  approach- 
ing, and  they  suffered  severely  from  the  want  of 
window  glass,  as  well  as  their  bedding,  woolen 
clothes,  and  the  various  articles,  including  cooking 
utensils,  taken  from  them.  Mrs.  Van  Alstine’s  most 
arduous  labors  could  do  little  towards  providing  for 
so  many  destitute  persons ; their  neighbors  were  in 
ns  condition  to  help  them,  the  roads  were  almost 
impassable,  besides  being  infested  by  Indians,  and 
their  finest  horses  had  been  taken.  In  this  deplo- 
rable situation,  she  proposed  to  her  husband  to  join 
with  others  who  had  been  robbed  in  like  manner, 
and  make  an  attempt  to  recover  their  property  from 
the  Indian  castle,  eighteen  or  twenty  miles  distant, 
where  it  had  been  carried.  But  the  idea  of  such 
an  enterprise  against  an  enemy  superior  in  num- 
bers and  well  prepared  for  defence,  was  soon  aban- 
doned. As  the  cold  became  more  intolerable  and 
the  necessity  for  doing  something  more  urgent, 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


229 


Mrs.  Van  Alstine,  unable  to  witness  longer  the  suf- 
ferings of  those  dependent  on  her,  resolved  to  ven- 
ture herself  on  the  expedition.  Her  husband  and 
children  endeavored  to  dissuade  her,  but  firm  for 
their  sake,  she  left  home,  accompanied  by  her  son, 
about  sixteen  years  of  age.  The  snow  was  deep 
and  the  roads  in  a wretched  condition,  yet  she  per- 
severed through  all  difficulties,  and  by  good  fortune 
arrived  at  the  castle  at  a time  when  the  Indians 
were  all  absent  on  a hunting  excursion,  the  women 
and  children  only  being  left  at  home.  She  went 
to  the  principal  house,  where  she  supposed  the 
most  valuable  articles  must  have  been  deposited, 
and  on  entering,  was  met  by  the  old  squaw  who 
had  the  superintendence,  who  demanded  what  she 
wanted.  She  asked  for  food ; the  squaw  hesitated  ; 
but  on  her  visitor  saying  she  had  never  turned  an 
Indian  away  hungry,  sullenly  commenced  prepara- 
tions for  a meal.  The  matron  saw  her  bright  cop- 
per tea-kettle,  with  other  cooking  utensils,  brought 
forth  for  use.  While  the  squaw  was  gone  for 
water,  she  began  a search  for  her  property,  and 
finding  several  articles  gave  them  to  her  son  to 
put  into  the  sleigh.  When  the  squaw,  returning, 
asked  by  whose  order  she  was  taking  those  things, 
Mrs.  Yan  Alstine  replied,  that  they  belonged  to  her; 
and  seeing  that  the  woman  was  not  disjDosed  to  give 
them  up  peaceably,  took  from  her  pocket-book  a 
paper,  and  handed  it  to  the  squaw,  who  she  knew 
could  not  read.  The  woman  asked  whose  name  was 
affixed  to  the  supposed  order,  and  being  told  it  was 


230 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


that  of  c Yankee  Peter’  — a man  who  had  great 
influence  among  the  savages,  dared  not  refuse  sub- 
mission. By  this  stratagem  Mrs.  Yan  Alstine  secu 
red,  without  opposition,  all  the  articles  she  could 
find  belonging  to  her,  and  put  them  into  the  sleigh. 
She  then  asked  where  the  horses  were  kept.  The 
squaw  refused  to  show  her,  but  she  went  to  the  sta 
ble,  and  there  found  those  belonging  to  her  husband, 
in  fine  order — for  the  savages  were  careful  of  their 
best  horses.  The  animals  recognised  their  mistress, 
and  greeted  her  by  a simultaneous  neighing.  She 
bade  her  son  cut  the  halters,  and  finding  them- 
selves at  liberty  they  bounded  off  and  went  home- 
ward at  full  speed.  The  mother  and  son  now  drove 
back  as  fast  as  possible,  for  she  knew  their  fate 
would  be  sealed  if  the  Indians  should  return.  They 
reached  home  late  in  the  evening,  and  passed  a 
sleepless  night,  dreading  instant  pursuit  and  a night 
attack  from  the  irritated  savages.  Soon  after  day- 
light the  alarm  was  given  that  the  Indians  were 
within  view,  and  coming  towards  the  house,  painted 
and  in  their  war  costume,  and  armed  with  toma- 
hawks and  rifles.  Mr.  Yan  Alstine  saw  no  course 
to  escape  their  vengeance  but  to  give  up  vhat- 
ever  they  wfished  to  take  back;  but  his  intrepid 
wife  was  determined  on  an  effort,  at  least,  to  re- 
tain her  property.  As  they  came  near  she  beg- 
ged her  husband  not  to  show  himself — for  she 
knew  they  would  immediately  fall  upon  him  — but  to 
leave  the  matter  in  her  hands.  The  intruders  took 
their  course  first  to  the  stable,  and  bidding  all  the 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


231 


rest  remain  witliin  doors,  the  matron  went  ont  alone, 
followed  to  the  door  by  her  family,  weeping  and 
entreating  her  not  to  expose  herself.  Going  to  the 
stable  she  enquired  in  the  Indian  language  what 
the  men  wanted.  The  reply  was  4 our  horses.5  She 
said  boldly  — 4 They  are  ours ; you  came  and  took 
them  without  right ; they  are  ours,  and  we  mean 
to  keep  them.5  The  chief  now  came  forward  threa- 
teningly, and  approached  the  door.  Mrs.  Van  Al- 
stine  placed  herself  against  it,  telling  him  she  would 
not  give  up  the  animals  they  had  raised  and  were 
attached  to.  lie  succeeded  in  pulling  her  from  the 
door,  and  drew  out  the  plug  that  fastened  it,  which 
she  snatched  from  his  hand,  pushing  him  away. 
He  then  stepped  back  and  presented  his  rifle,  threa- 
tening to  shoot  her  if  she  did  not  move  ; but  she 
kept  her  position,  opening  her  neckhandkerchief  and 
bidding  him  shoot  if  he  dared.  It  might  be  that 
the  Indian  feared  punishment  from  his  allies  for 
any  such  act  of  violence,  or  that  he  was  moved 
with  admiration  of  her  intrepidity;  he  hesitated, 
looked  at  her  for  a moment,  and  then  slowly  drop- 
ped his  gun,  uttering  in  his  native  language  ex- 
pressions implying  his  conviction  that  the  evil  one 
must  help  her,  and  saying  to  his  companions  that 
6he  was  a brave  woman  and  they  would  not  molest 
her.  Giving  a shout,  by  way  of  expressing  their 
approbation,  they  departed  from  the  premises.  On 
their  way  they  called  at  the  house  of  Col.  Frey,  and 
related  their  adventure,  saying  that  the  white  wo- 
man’s courage  had  saved  her  and  her  property,  and 


232 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


were  there  fifty  such  brave  women  as  the  wife  of 
4 Big  Tree,5  the  Indians  would  never  have  troubled 
the  inhabitants  of  the  Mohawk  valley.  She  experi- 
enced afterwards  the  good  effects  of  the  impression 
made  at  this  time.  .... 

44  It  was  not  long  after  this  occurrence  that  seve- 
ral Indians  came  upon  some  children  left  in  the  field 
while  the  men  went  to  dinner,  and  took  them  pri- 
soners, tomahawking  a young  man  who  rushed  from 
an  adjoining  field  to  their  assistance.  Two  of  these 
— six  and  eight  years  of  age — were  Mrs.  Van 
Alstine’s  children.  The  savages  passed  on  towards 
the  Susquehanna,  plundering  and  destroying  as  they 
went.  They  were  three  weeks  upon  the  journey, 
and  the  poor  little  captives  suffered  much  from 
hunger  and  exposure  to  the  night  air,  being  in  a 
deplorable  condition  by  the  time  they  returned  to 
Canada.  On  their  arrival,  according  to  custom, 
each  prisoner  was  required  to  run  the  gauntlet, 
two  Indian  boys  being  stationed  on  either  side, 
armed  with  clubs  and  sticks  to  beat  him  as  he 
ran.  The  eldest  was  cruelly  bruised,  and  when 
the  younger,  pale  and  exhausted,  was  led  forward, 
a squaw  of  the  tribe,  taking  pity  on  the  helpless 
child,  said  she  would  go  in  his  place,  or  if  that 
could  not  be  permitted,  would  carry  him.  She 
accordingly  took  him  in  her  arms,  and  wrapping 
her  blanket  around  him,  got  through  with  some 
severe  blows.  The  children  were  then  washed  and 
clothed  by  order  of  the  chief,  and  supper  was 
given  them.  Their  uncle — then  also  a prisoner — • 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


233 


heard  of  the  arrival  of  children  from  the  Mohawk, 
and  was  permitted  to  visit  them.  The  little  crea- 
tures were  sleeping  soundly  when  aroused  by  a 
familiar  voice,  and  joyfully  exclaiming,  4 Uncle 
Quackinbush ! ’ were  clasped  in  his  arms.  In  the 
following  spring  the  captives  were  ransomed,  and 
returned  home  in  fine  spirits.”  * 

Prior  to  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  Mr. 
Van  Alstine  had  purchased  a tract  of  land  on 
the  Susquehanna,  eighteen  miles  below  Coopers- 
town;  and  thither  removed  in  1785.  There  as  at 
her  former  home,  Mrs.  Yan  Alstine  had  an  oppor- 
tunity to  exhibit  the  heroic  qualities  of  her  nature. 
We  subjoin  two  anecdotes  illustrative  of  foiest  life 
in  the  midst  of  savages. 

“On  one  occasion  an  Indian  whom  Mr.  Yan 
Alstine  had  otfended,  came  to  his  house  with  the 
intention  of  revenging  himself.  He  was  not  at; 
home,  and  the  men  were  out  at  work,  but  his  wife 
and  family  were  within,  when  the  intruder  entered. 
Mrs.  Yan  Alstine  saw  his  purpose  in  his  countenance. 
When  she  inquired  his  business,  he  pointed  to  his 
rifle,  saying,  he  meant  ‘to  show  Big  Tree  which  was 
the  best  man.’  She  well  knew  that  if  her  husband 
presented  himself  he  would  probably  fall  a victim 
unless  she  could  reconcile  the  difficulty.  With  this 
view  she  commenced  a conversation  upon  subjects 
in  which  she  knew  the  savage  would  take  an  in- 
terest, and  admiring  his  dress,  asked  permission 


Women  of  the  Revolution. 


234 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


to  examine  his  rifle,  which,  after  praising,  she  set 
down,  and  while  managing  to  fix  his  attention  on 
something  else  poured  water  into  the  barrel.  She 
then  gave  him  back  the  weapon,  and  assuming  a 
more  earnest  manner,  spoke  to  him  of  the  Good 
Spirit,  his  kindness  to  men,  and  their  duty  to  be 
kind  to  each  other.  By  her  admirable  tact  she  so 
far  succeeded  in  pacifying  him,  that  when  her  hus- 
band returned  he  was  ready  to  extend  to  him  the 
hand  of  reconciliation  and  fellowship.  He  partook 
of  some  refreshment,  and  before  leaving  informed 
them  that  one  of  their  neighbors  had  lent  him  the 
rifle  for  his  deadly  purpose.  They  had  for  some 
time  suspected  this  neighbor,  who  had  coveted  a 
piece  of  land,  of  unkind  feelings  towards  them  be- 
cause he  could  not  obtain  it,  yet  could  scarcely 
believe  him  so  depraved.  The  Indian,  to  confirm 
his  story,  otfered  to  accompany  Mrs.  Yan  Alstine 
to  the  man’s  house,  and  although  it  was  evening 
she  went  with  him,  made  him  repeat  what  he  had 
said,  and  so  convinced  her  neighbor  of  the  wicked- 
ness of  his  conduct,  that  he  was  ever  afterwards 
one  of  their  best  friends.  Thus  by  her  prudence 
and  address  she  preserved,  in  all  probability,  the 
lives  of  her  husband  and  family;  for  she  learned 
afterwards  that  a number  of  savages  had  been  con 
cealed  near,  to  rush  upon  them  in  case  of  danger  to 
their  companion. 

“At  another  time  a young  Indian  came  in  and 
asked  the  loan  of  a drawing  knife.  As  soon  as  he 
had  it  in  his  hand  he  walked  up  to  the  table,  on 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


235 


which  there  was  a loaf  of  bread,  and  unceremoni- 
ously cut  several  slices  from  it.  One  of  Mrs.  Van 
Alstine’s  sons  had  a deerskin  in  his  hand,  and 
indignantly  struck  the  savage  with  it.  lie  turned 
and  darted  out  of  the  door,  giving  a loud  whoop  as 
he  fled.  The  mother  just  then  came  in,  and  hear- 
ing what  had  passed  expressed  her  sorrow  and  fears 
that  there  would  be  trouble,  for  she  knew  the  Indian 
character  too  well  to  suppose  they  would  allow  the 
matter  to  rest.  Her  apprehensions  were  soon  realized 
by  the  approach  of  a party  of  savages,  headed  by 
the  brother  of  the  youth  who  had  been  struck. 
He  entered  alone,  and  inquired  for  the  boy  who 
had  given  the  blow.  Mr.  Van  Alstine,  starting  up 
in  surprise,  asked  impatiently,  cWhat  the  devilish 
Indian  wanted?’  The  savage,  understanding  the 
expression  applied  to  his  appearance  to  be  anything 
but  complimentary,  uttered  a sharp  cry,  and  raising 
his  rifle,  aimed  at  Van  Alstine’s  breast.  His  wife 
sprang  forward  in  time  to  throw  up  the  weapon, 
the  contents  of  which  were  discharged  into  the  wall, 
and  pushing  out  the  Indian,  who  stood  just  at  the 
entrance,  she  quickly  closed  the  door.  He  was 
much  enraged,  but  she  at  length  succeeded  in  per- 
suading him  to  listen  to  a calm  account  of  the 
matter,  and  asked  why  the  quarrel  of  two  lads 
•should  break  their  friendship.  She  finally  invited 
him  to  come  in  and  settle  the  difficulty  in  an  ami- 
cable way.  To  his  objection  that  they  had  no  rum, 
she  answered — ‘ But  we  have  tea ;’  and  at  length 
the  party  was  called  in,  and  a speech  made  by  the 


236 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


leader  in  favor  of  the  ‘white  squaw,’  after  which 
the  tea  was  passed  round.  The  Indian  then  took 
the  grounds,  and  emptying  them  into  a hole  made 
in  the  ashes,  declared  that  the  enmity  was  buried 
forever.  After  this,  whenever  the  family  was  mo- 
lested, the  ready  tact  of  Mrs.  Van  Alstine,  and  her 
acquaintance  with  Indian  nature,  enabled  her  to  pre 
vent  any  serious  difficulty.  They  had  few  advantages 
for  religious  worship,  but  whenever  the  weather  would 
permit,  the  neighbors  assembled  at  Van  Alstine’s 
house  to  hear  the  word  preached.  His  wife,  by  her 
influence  over  the  Indians,  persuaded  many  of  them 
to  attend,  and  would  interpret  to  them  what  was 
said  by  the  minister.  Often  their  rude  hearts  were 
touched,  and  they  would  weep  bitterly  while  she 
went  over  the  affecting  narrative  of  our  Redeemer’s 
life  and  death,  and  explained  the  truths  of  the  Gos- 
pel. Much  good  did  she  in  this  way,  and  in  after 
years  many  a savage  converted  to  Christianity  blessed 
her  as  his  benefactress.” 


HEROIC  CONDUCT  AT  MONMOUTH. 


Proud  were  they  by  such  to  stand, 

In  hammock,  fort  or  glen; 

To  load  the  sure  old  rifle  — 

To  run  the  leaden  ball  — 

To  watch  a battling  husband’s  place, 

And  fill  it  should  he  fall. 

W.  D.  Gallagher. 

During  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  a gunner  named 
Pitcher  was  killed ; and  when  the  call  was  made  for 
some  one  to  take  the  place  of  her  fallen  husband, 
his  wife,  who  had  followed  him  to  the  camp,  and 
thence  to  the  field  of  conflict,  unhesitatingly  stepped 
forward,  and  offered  her  services.  The  gun  was  so 
well  managed  as  to  draw  the  attention  of  General 
Washington  to  the  circumstance,  and  to  call  forth  an 
expression  of  his  admiration  of  her  bravery  and  her 
fidelity  to  her  country.  To  show  his  appreciation  of 
her  virtues  and  her  highly  valuable  services,  he  con- 
ferred on  her  a lieutenant’s  commission.  She  after- 
wards went  by  the  name  of  Captain  Molly . 

The  poet  Glover  tells  us,  in  his  Leonidas,  that 
Xerxes  boasted 

“His  ablest,  bravest  counselor  and  chief 
In  Artemisia,  Caria’s  matchless  queen;” 

and  Herodotus  also  very  justly  eulogizes  the  same 


238 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


character.  Yet  Artemisia  was  scarcely  more  service- 
able to  Xerxes  in  the  battle  of  Salamis,  than  “ Cap- 
tain Molly”  to  Washington  in  the  battle  of  Mon- 
mouth. One  served  in  a Grecian  expedition,  to 
gratify  her  great  spirit,  vigor  of  mind  and  love  of 
glory ; the  other  fought,  partly,  it  may  be,  to  revenge 
the  death  of  her  husband,  but  more,  doubtless,  for 
the  love  she  bore  for  an  injured  country,  “ bleeding 
at  every  vein.”  One  was  rewarded  with  a complete 
suit  of  Grecian  armor;  the  other  with  a lieutenant’s 
commission,  and  both  for  their  bravery.  If  the  queen 
of  Caria  is  deserving  of  praise  for  her  martial  valor, 
the  name  of  the  heroic  wife  of  the  gunner,  should  be 
woven  with  hers  in  a fadeless  wreath  of  song. 


COUEAGE  OF  A COUNTEY  GIRL. 


Honor  and  shame  from  no  condition  rise, 

Act  well  your  part,  there  all  the  honor  lies. 

Pope 

In  December,  1777,  while  Washington  was  at 
Valley  Forge  and  the  enemy  was  in  Philadelphia, 
Major  Tallmadge  was  stationed  between  the  two 
places  with  a detachment  of  cavalry,  to  make  obser- 
vations and  to  limit  the  range  of  British  foragers. 
On  one  occasion,  while  performing  this  duty,  he  was 
informed  that  a country  girl  had  gone  into  Phila- 
delphia — perhaps  by  W ashington’s  instigation  — 
ostensibly  to  sell  eggs,  but  really  and  especially  to 
obtain  information  respecting  the  enemy;  and  curi- 
osity led  him  to  move  his  detachment  to  Germantown. 
There  the  main  body  halted  while  he  advanced  wTith 
a small  party  towards  the  British  lines.  Dismounting 
at  a tavern  in  plain  sight  of  their  outposts,  he  soon 
saw  a young  girl  coming  out  of  the  city.  He  watched 
her  till  she  came  up  to  the  tavern;  made  nimself 
known  to  her,  and  was  about  to  receive  some  valuable 
intelligence,  when  he  was  informed  that  the  British 
light  horse  were  advancing.  Stepping  to  the  door  he 
saw  them  in  full  pursuit  of  his  patroles.  He  hastily 


240 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


mounted,  but  before  he  had  started  his  charger,  the 
girl  was  at  his  side  begging  for  protection.  Quick  as 
thought,  he  ordered  her  to  mount  behind  him.  She 
obeyed,  and  in  that  way  rode  to  Germantown,  a dis- 
tance of  three  miles.  During  the  whole  ride,  writes 
the  Major  in  his  Journal,  where  we  find  these  details, 
u although  there  was  considerable  firing  of  pistois, 
and  not  a little  wheeling  and  charging,  she  remained 
unmoved,  and  never  once  complained  of  fear.” 


THE  LEDYAKDS  AT  FORT  GRISWOLD 


All  never  shall  the  land  forget 

How  gushed  the  life-blood  of  the  brave ; 

Gushed  warm  with  hope  and  courage  yet, 

Upon  the  soil  they  fought  to  save. 

Bryant 

How  few  like  thee  enquire  the  wretched  out, 

And  court  the  offices  of  soft  humanity. 

Rowe. 

“It  will  be  remembered  that  at  the  time  of  the 
burning  of  New  London,  Connecticut,  a detachment 
of  the  army  of  the  traitor  Arnold,  under  whose  per- 
sonal direction  that  feat  of  vandalism  was  performed, 
was  directed  to  attack  and  carry  Fort  Griswold  at 
Groton,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  It  wat 
then  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Ledyard,  a brave 
and  meritorious  officer,  whose  memory  will  live  iu 
the  warm  affections  of  his  country,  as  that  of  one  of 
the  early  martyrs  to  her  liberty,  whilst  the  granite 
pile  which  now  lifts  its  summit  above  the  spot  where 
he  was  sacrificed,  shall  long  remain  to  bear  the  record 
of  his  death.  The  fort  was,  in  truth,  little  more  than 
an  embankment  of  earth,  thrown  up  as  a breast-work 
for  the  handful  of  troops  it  surrounded,  and  with  a 
strong  log-house  in  the  center.  The  force  which 

attacked  it  was  altogether  superior  to  that  of  its 
16 


242 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


defenders,  even  when  the  difference  in  their  position 
is  taken  into  view.  The  case  was  so  hopeless,  that 
the  slightest  share  of  prudence  wrould  have  suggested 
retreat.  But  the  chafed  and  gallant  spirits  of  Led- 
yard  and  his  men  would  not  permit  them  ,to  retire 
before  a marauding  enemy,  however  powerful,  without 
making  at  least  one  effort  to  beat  him  back.  With  a 
boldness  and  heroism  scarcely  ever  surpassed,  they 
stood  their  ground,  until  overwhelming  numbers  of 
the  enemy  were  in  the  fort,  and  engaged  hand  to 
hand  with  its  heroic  defenders.  Fierce  and  terrible, 
for  a few  moments,  was  the  encounter,  and  it  was  not 
until  the  last  ray  of  hope  was  gone,  and  nothing  but 
a useless  effusion  of  blood  would  have  resulted  from 
further  resistance,  that  they  at  length  yielded.  In 
doing  so,  however,  they  were  inclined  to  believe  that 
the  gallantry  displayed  by  their  little  band,  would  at 
least  shelter  them  from  indignity.  Ledyard  had 
turned  the  handle  of  his  sword  to  the  commander  of 
the  assailants,  and  in  answer  to  the  question,  ‘who 
commands  this  fort,’  replied,  ‘I  did,  sir,  but  you  do 
now,5  when  he  was  pierced  to  the  heart  with  his  own 
weapon,  and  by  the  dastardly  hand  in  which  he  had 
just  placed  it.  An  almost  indiscriminate  butchery 
now  commenced;  many  falling  instantly  dead  and 
some  being  desperately  wounded.  The  fort  was  then 
entirely  at  the  disposal  of  the  enemy.  The  barbarity, 
however,  did  not  end  there.  When  it  was  found  that 
several  of  the  prisoners  were  still  alive,  the  British 
soldiers  piled  their  mangled  bodies  in  an  old  cart  and 
started  it  down  the  steep  and  rugged  hill,  towards  the 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


243 


river,  in  order  that  they  might  be  there  drowned. 
But  stumps  and  stones  obstructed  the  passage  of  the 
cart;  and  when  the  enemy  had  retreated  — for  the 
aroused  inhabitants  of  that  region  soon  compelled 
them  to  the  step — the  friends  of  the  wounded  came 
to  their  aid  and  thus  several  lives  were  saved.”* 

One  of  the  u ministering  angels”  who  came  the  next 
morning  to  the  aid  of  the  thirty-five  wounded  men, 
who  lay  all  night  freezing  in  their  own  blood,  was 
Miss  Mary  Ledyard,  a near  relative  of  the  Colonel. 
“She  brought  warm  chocolate,  wine,  and  other  re- 
freshments, and  while  Dr.  Downer  of  Preston  was 
dressing  their  wounds,  she  went  from  one  to  another, 
administering  her  cordials,  and  breathing  into  their 
ears  gentle  words  of  sympathy  and  encouragement. 
In  these  labors  of  kindness  she  was  assisted  by  ano 
ther  relative  of  the  lamented  Colonel  Ledyard  — Mrs. 
John  Ledyard  — who  had  also  brought  her  household 
stores  to  refresh  the  sufferers,  and  lavished  on  them 
the  most  soothing  personal  attentions.  The  soldiers 
who  recovered  from  their  wounds,  were  accustomed, 
to  the  day  of  their  death,  to  speak  of  these  ladies  in 
terms  of  fervent  gratitude  and  praise.”f 


Democratic  Review,  voL  20,  pp#93-4. 


f Mrs.  Ellet. 


SENE-CA  HEROINES. 


They  fought  like  brave  men,  long  and  well. 

Halleck. 

In  the  celebrated  battle  between  the  French  and 
Indians,  which  occurred  near  Victor,  in  the  western 
part  of  New  York,  in  1687,  five  Seneca  women 
took  an  active  part  in  the  bloody  conflict.  Mr. 
Hosmer,  the  poet,  alludes  to  the  circumstance  in 
one  of  his  celebrated  “ Lectures  on  the  Iroquois,” 
from  the  manuscript  of  which  we  have  been  per- 
mitted to  copy,  as  follows: 

“The  memory  of  illustrious  women  who  have 
watched  in  defence  of  altar  and  hearth,  the  deeds 
of  the  sterner  sex,  has  been  enshrined  in  song,  and 
honored  by  the  Historic  Muse.  Joan  of  Arc,  and 
the  dark-eyed  maid  of  Saragossa  in  all  coming 
time  will  be  chivalric  watch-words  of  France  and 
Spain,  but  not  less  worthy  of  record,  and  poetic 
embalmment,  were  the  Jwe  * devoted  heroines  who 
followed  their  red  lords  to  the  battle-field  near 
ancient  Ganagarro,  and  fought  with  unflinching  re- 


* Vide  Doc.  His,  Yol.  1.  p.  256. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


245 


solution  by  their  sides.  Children  of  such  wives 
could  not  be  otherwise  than  valiant.  Bring  back 
your  shield,  or  be  brought  upon  it,  was  the  Spartan 
mothers  stern  injunction  to  her  son:  but  roused 

to  a higher  pitch  of  courage,  the  wild  daughters  of 
the  Genesee  stood  in  the  perilous  pass,  and  in  the 
defence  of  their  forest  homes,  turned  not  back  from 
the  spear,  “the  thunder  of  the  captains,  and  the 
shouting.55 


MARTHA  BRiTTON. 


Not  to  the  ensanguined  field  of  death  alone 
Is  valor  limited. 

Smollet 

Our  country  first,  their  glory  and  their  pride. 

J.  T.  Fields 

Martha  Bratton  was  the  wife  of  William  Bratton 
a native  of  Pennsylvania.  She  was  born  in  Rowan 
county,  North  Carolina.  They  settled  near  York 
ville,  in  South  Carolina,  where  she  died  in  1816. 
Two  or  three  anecdotes  will  suffice  to  illustrate  her 
character. 

In  June,  1780,  a party  of  British  and  tory  ma- 
rauders, were  attacked  by  a company  of  whiga 
under  Colonel  Bratton,  at  Mobley  Meeting  House, 
in  Fairfield  district,  South  Carolina,  and  defeated. 
Advertised  of  this  disaster,  Colonel  Turnbull,  com- 
mander of  a detachment  of  British  troops  at  Rocky 
Mount,  Chester  county,  ordered  Captain  Huck  to 
proceed  wTith  his  cavalry  to  the  frontier  of  the 
province,  collecting  all  the  royal  army  on  his  march, 
and  if  possible  to  subdue  the  rebels.  An  engage 
ment  soon  took  place  between  Captain  Huck  and  Col 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


247 


onel  Bratton ; but  before  the  battle,  the  Colonels  wife 
had  an  opportunity  to  display  her  character  in  a 
truly  heroic  manner.  The  evening  preceding,  Huck 
arrived  at  the  Colonel’s  house,  and  entering  in  an 
uncivil  manner,  demanded  of  his  wife  where  her 
husband  was'.  She  boldly  replied  u He  is  in  Sum- 
tor’s  army ! ” Huck  then  tried  to  persuade  her 
to  induce  her  husband  to  join  the  British,  and 
even  went  so  far  as  to  promise  him  a commission, 
in  case  he  would  do  so.  But  neither  persuasion 
nor  argument  availed  any  thing.  With  the  firmness 
of  a true  patriot,  she  assured  him  that  she  would 
rather  see  him  — faithful  to  his  country  — perish 
Sumter’s  army,  than  clothed  with  any  power  or 
graced  with  any  honor  royalty  could  bestow!  At 
this  point,  a soldier,  exasperated  at  her  bold  and 
fearless  manner,  seized  a reaping  hook  that  hung 
in  the  piazza  and  threatened  to  kill  her  if  she  did 
not  give  particular  and  full  information  in  regard  to 
her  husband.  But  with  the  weapon  still  at  her 
throat,  she  promptly  refused;  and,  but  for  the  inter- 
ference of  the  officer  second  in  command,  she  would 
have  lost  her  life. 

Huck  now  ordered  her  to  prepare  supper  for 
himself  and  the  whole  band.  With  this  request  she 
complied,  and  then  retired  to  an  upper  apartment 
with  her  children.  Supper  over,  Huck  posted  his 
sentinels  along  the  road  and  went  with  his  officers 
to  another  house,  half  a mile  off,  to  pass  the  night. 

Convinced  that  the  royalists  would  seek  revenge 
for  their  late  defeat  at  Mobley’s  Meeting  House, 


248 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


and  naturally  fearing  that  his  own  family  might 
be  among'  the  victims,  Colonel  Bratton  had  that 
day  marched  from  Mecklenburg  county,  North  Caro- 
lina, with  seventy-five  men.  Late  in  the  evening 
he  drew  near  his  house,  and  learning  that  the  enemy 
were  there,  and  ascertaining  their  number,  he  made 
speedy  preparations  for  an  attack.  The  guard 
of  the  royalists  was  neglected,  and  he  found  no 
trouble  in  reconnoitering  the  encampment.  All 
things  ready,  the  attack  was  made  before  Huck 
had  finished  his  morning  nap.  He  awoke  only  to 
attempt  to  rally  his  men  and  then  lie  down  again 
to  sleep  for  ever!  The  tories  seeing  their  leader 
fall,  fled,  or  made  the  attempt.  Some  did  escape, 
others  were  killed,  others  taken  prisoners.  The 
firing  ceased  about  day  light,  when  Mrs.  Bratton 
made  her  appearance.  She  received  the  wounded  on 
both  sides,  and  showed  them  impartial  attention, 
setting  herself  to  work  immediately,  dressing  their 
wounds  and  trying  to  relieve  their  pains.  She  who 
was  so  brave  in  the  hour  of  danger,  was  no  less 
humane  in  a time  of  suffering.  * 

Prior  to  the  fall  of  Charleston  at  a period  when 


* The  following  toast  was  drunk  at  Brattonsville,  York  district,  on 
the  twelfth  of  July,  1839,  at  a celebration  of  Huck’s  Defeat. 

“ The  memory  of  Mrs.  Martha  Bratton. — In  the  hands  of  an  infuriated 
monster,  with  the  instrument  of  death  around  her  neck,  she  nobly 
refused  to  betray  her  husband  ; in  the  hour  of  victory  she  remembered 
mercy,  and  .as  a guardian  angel,  interposed  in  behalf  of  her  inhuman 
enemies.  Throughout  the  Revolution  she  encouraged  the  whigs  to 
fight  on  to  the  last;  to  hope  on  to  the  end.  Honor  and  gratitude 
to  the  woman  and  heroine,  who  proved  herself  so  faithful  a wife 
- so  firm  a friend  to  liberty  1 ” 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


249 


ammunition  was  very  scarce,  Governor  Rutledge 
intrusted  to  her  a small  stock  of  powder.  This 
fact  some  tory  ascertained,  and  communicated  to 
the  British  at  a station  not  far  off.  A detachment 
was  forthwith  sent  out  to  secure  the  treasure,  of 
which  movement  Mrs.  Bratton  received  early  in- 
timation. Resolving  that  the  ‘red  coats  should  not 
have  the  prize,  she  laid  a train  of  powder  from 
the  depot  to  the  spot  she  chose  to  occupy;  and 
when  they  came  in  sight,  she  blew  it  up.  “Who 
has  dared  to  do  this  atrocious  act?  Speak  quickly, 
that  they  may  meet  the  punishment  they  deserve,55 
was  the  demand  of  the  officer  in  command.  “ Know 
then,  5twas  /,55  was  the  dauntless  reply  of  Mrs. 
Bratton,  “and  let  the  consequences  be  what  they 
will,55  she  added,  “ I glory  in  having  frustrated  the 
mischief  contemplated  by  the  merciless  enemies  of 
my  country.55 


A POOR  WOMAN’S  OFFERING. 


The  world  is  but  a word  ; 

Were  it  all  yours,  to  give  it  in  a breath, 

How  quickly  were  it  gone  I 

Shakspeare. 

The  following  anecdote  was  related,  a few  years 
ago,  by  the  Rev.  W.  S.  Plnmer,  while  addressing 
the  Virginia  Baptist  Education  Society.  We  regret 
that  he  did  not  give  the  name  of  the  good  woman 
who  possessed  such  commendable  zeal  for  the  mis- 
sionary cause. 

“A  poor  woman  had  attended  a missionary  mee- 
ting a few  years  since.  Her  heart  was  moved  with 
pity.  She  looked  around  on  her  house  and  furniture 
to  see  what  she  could  spare  for  the  mission.  She 
could  think  of  nothing  that  would  be  of  any  use. 
A.t  length  she  thought  of  her  five  children,  three 
daughters  and  two  sons.  She  entered  her  closet,  and 
consecrated  them  to  the  mission.  Two  of  her  daugh- 
ters are  now  in  heathen  lands,  and  the  other  is  pre- 
paring to  go.  Of  her  sons,  one  is  on  his  way  to 
India,  and  the  other  is  preparing  for  the  ministry, 
and  inquiring  on  the  subject  of  a missionary  life.” 


THE  MOTHER  OE  PRESIDENT  JACKSON. 


How  often  has  the  thought 
Of  my  mourn’d  mother  brought 
Peace  to  my  troubled  spirit,  and  new  power 
The  tempter  to  repel. 

Mother,  thou  knowest  well 
That  thou  has  bless’d  me  since  my  natal  hour. 

Pierpont. 

The  mother  of  General  Jackson  had  three  child- 
ren. Their  names  were  Ilngh,  Robert  and  Andrew. 
The  last  was  the  youngest  and  lost  his  father  when 
an  infant.  Like  the  mother  of  Washington,  she  was 
a very  pious  woman,  and  strove  to  glorify  God  as 
much  in  the  rearing  of  her  children  as  in  the  per- 
formance of  any  other  duty.  She  taught  Andrew  the 
leading  doctrines  of  the  Bible,  in  the  form  of  ques- 
tion and  answer,  from  the  Westminister  catechism;  and 
those  lessons  he  never  forgot.  I-n  conversation  with 
him  some  years  since,  says  a writer,  “ General  Jack- 
son  spoke  of  his  mother  in  a manner  that  convinced 
me  that  she  never  ceased  to  exert  a secret  power 
over  him,  until  his  heart  was  brought  into  reconcili- 
ation with  God.”  This  change,  however,  he  did  not 
experience  till  very  late  in  life — after  he  had  retired 
from  the  Presidency.  lie  united  with  the  Presby- 


252 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


terian  church  near  the  close  of  the  year  1839,  then 
in  his  seventy-third  year.  Just  before  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  June,  1845,  he  said  to  a clergy- 
man, “My  lamp  of  life  is  nearly  out,  and  the  last 
glimmer  is  come.  I am  ready  to  depart  when  called. 
The  Bible  is  true.  . . . Upon  that  sacred  vol- 

ume I rest  my  hope  of  eternal  salvation,  through  the 
merits  and  blood  of  our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour, 
Jesus  Christ.55 

If  departed  spirits,  the  saintly  and  ascended,  are 
permitted  to  look  from  their  high  habitation,  upon 
the  scenes  of  earth,  with  what  holy  transport  must 
the  mother  of  Andrew  Jackson  have  beheld  the 
death-bed  triumph  of  her  son.  The  lad  whom  she 
early  sent  to  an  academy  at  the  Waxhaw  meeting- 
house, hoping  to  fit  him  for  the  ministry,  had  become 
a man,  and  led  the  hosts  of  the  land  through  many  a 
scene  of  conflict  and  on  to  a glorious  and  decisive 
victory;  had  filled  the  highest  office  in  the  world, 
and  was  now  an  old  man,  able,  in  his  last  earthly 
hour,  by  the  grace  of  God  attending  her  ea/rly, pious 
instruction,  to  challenge  death  for  his  sting  and  to 
shout  “ victory 55  over  his  opening  grave. 


THE  YOUNG  HEROINE  OF  FORT  HENRY. 


Judge  me  not  ungentle, 

Of  manner’s  rude,  and  insolent  of  speech. 

If,  when  the  public  safety  is  in  question, 

My  zeal  flows  warm  and  eager  from  my  tongue. 

Rowe’s  Jane  Shore. 

The  siege  of  Fort  Henry,  at  the  mouth  of  Wheel- 
ing creek,  in  Ohio  county,  Virginia,  occurred  in 
September,  1777.  Of  the  historical  fact  most  people 
are  aware;  yet  but  few,  comparatively,  knew  how 
much  the  little  band  in  the  garrison,  who  held  out 
against  thirty  or  forty  times  their  number  of  savage 
assailants,  were  indebted,  for  their  success,  to  the 
courage  and  self-devotion  of  a single  female. 

The  Indians  kept  up  a brisk  firing  from  about 
sunrise  till  past  noon,  when  they  ceased  and  retired 
a short  distance  to  the  foot  of  a hill.  During  the 
forenoon  the  little  company  in  the  fort  had  not  been 
idle.  Among  their  number  were  a few  sharp  shooters, 
who  had  burnt  most  of  the  powder  on  hand  to  the 
best  advantage.  Almost  every  charge  had  taken 
effect;  and  probably  the  savages  began  to  see  that 
they  were  losing  numbers  at  fearful  odds,  and  had 
doubtless  retired  for  consultation.  But  they  had  less 


254 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


occasion  for  anxiety,  just  at  that  time,  than  the  men, 
women  and  children  in  the  garrison.  As  already 
hinted,  the  stock  of  powder  was  nearly  exhausted. 
There  was  a keg  in  a house  ten  or  twelve  rods 
from  the  gate  of  the  fort,  and  as  soon  as  the  hos- 
tilities of  the  Indians  were  suspended,  the  question 
arose,  who  shall  attempt  to  seize  this  prize?  Strange 
to  say,  every  soldier  proffered  his  services,  and  there 
was  an  ardent  contention  among  them  for  the  honor, 
[n  the  weak  state  of  the  garrison,  Colonel  Shepard, 
the  commander,  deemed  it  advisable  that  only  one 
person  should  be  spared;  and  in  the  midst  of  the  con- 
tusion, before  an}^  one  could  be  designated,  a girl 
named  Elizabeth  Zane,*  interrupted  the  debate, 
saying  that  her  life  was  not  so  important,  at  that 
time,  as  any  one  of  the  soldier’s,  and  claiming  the 
privilege  of  performing  the  contested  service.  The 
Colonel  would  not,  at  first,  listen  to  her  proposal ; 
but  she  was  so  resolute,  so  persevering  in  her  plea, 
aud  her  argument  was  so  powerful,  that  he  finally 
suffered  the  gate  to  be  opened,  and  she  passed  out. 
The  Indians  saw  her  before  she  reached  her  bro- 
thel’s house,  where  the  keg  was  deposited;  but,  for 
some  unknown  cause,  they  did  not  molest  her,  until 
she  re-appeared  with  the  article  under  her  arm. 
Probably  divining  the  nature  of  her  burden,  they 
discharged  a volley  as  she  was  running  towards  the 

* We  learn,  from  Withers,  that  Miss  Zane  has  since  had  two 
husbands. 

The  name  of  the  second  was  Clarke,  a resident  of  Ohio.  She  was 
living,  not  long  since,  near  St.  Clairsville. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN, 


255 


gate  ; but  the  whizzing  balls  only  gave  agility  to 
her  feet,  and  herself  and  the  prize  were  quickly  safe 
within  the  gate.  The  result  was  that  the  soldiers, 
inspired  with  enthusiasm  by  this  heroic  adventure, 
fought  with  renewed  courage^  and,  before  the  keg 
of  powder  was  exhausted,  the  enemy  raised  the  siege. 


A BENEVOLENT  WIDOW 


Charity  ever 
Finds  in  the  act  reward. 

Beaumont  and  Fletcher. 

Several  years  ago,  a poor  widow  had  placed  a smo- 
ked herring, — the  last  morsel  of  food  she  had  in  the 
house — on  the  table  for  herself  and  children,  when  a 
stranger  entered  and  solicited  food,  saying  that  he  had 
had  nothing  to  eat  for  twenty-four  hours.  The  widow 
unhesitatingly  offered  to  share  the  herring  with  him, 
remarking,  at  the  same  time,  “We  shall  not  he  for- 
saken, or  suffer  deeper  for  an  act  of  charity.  ” 

As  the  stranger  drew  near  the  table  and  saw  the 
scantiness  of  the  fare,  he  asked,  “And  is  this  all  your 
store?  Do  you  offer  a share  to  one  you  do  not  know? 
Then  I never  saw  charity  before.  But,  madam,  do 
you  not  wrong  your  children  by  giving  a part  of  your 
morsel  to  a stranger?”  “Ah,”  said  she,  with  tears  in 
her  eyes , “ I have  a hoy,  a darling  son,  somewhere  on 
the  face  of  the  wide  world,  unless  Heaven  has  taken 
him  away;  and  I only  act  towards  you  as  I would 
that  others  should  act  towards  him.  God,  who  sent 
manna  from  heaven,  can  provide  for  us  as  he  did 
'or  Israel ; and  how  should  I this  night  offend  him, 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


257 


if  my  son  should  be  a wanderer,  destitute  as  you, 
and  he  should  have  provided  for  him  a home,  even 
as  poor  as  this,  were  I to  turn  you  unrelieved  away ! ” 
The  stranger  whom  she  thus  addressed,  was  the  long 
absent  son  to  whom  she  referred ; and  when  she  stop- 
ped speaking,  he  sprang  from  his  feet,  clasped  her 
in  his  arms,  and  exclaimed,  “ God,  indeed,  has  pro- 
vided just  such  a home  for  your  wandering  son,  and 
has  given  him  wealth  to  reward  the  goodness  of 
his  benefactress . My  mother ! O,  my  mother ! ” * 


* Abrjfp*!  from  Cyclopedia  of  Moral  and  Religious  Anecdotes. 


17 


AE  a E FITZHUGH. 


Who  shall  find  a valiant  woman  ? 

The  price  of  her  is  as  things  brought  from  afar. 

Pi  overbs. 


’T  is  the  last 

Duty  that  I can  pay  to  my  dear  lord. 

Fletcher. 


The  wife  of  Colonel  William  Fitzhugh,  of  Mary- 
land, while* he  was  absent  at  one  time  during  the 
devolution,  was  surprised  by  the  news  that  a party 
of  British  soldiers  was  approaching  her  house. 
She  instantly  collected  her  slaves ; furnished  them 
with  such  weapons  of  defence  as  were  at  hand ; 
took  a quantity  of  cartridges  in  her  apron,  and, 
herself  forming  the  van,  urged  her  sable  subalterns 
on  to  meet  the  foe.  Not  looking  for  resistance,  the 
advancing  party,  on  beholding  the  amazon  with  her 
sooty  invincibles,  hastily  turned  on  their  heels  and 
fled. 

On  a subsequent  occasion,  a detachment  of  soldiers 
marched  at  midnight  to  Colonel  Fitzhugh  5s  house, 
which  was  half  a mile  from  the  shore,  and  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Patuxent  river,  and  knocked  at  the 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


259 


door.  The  Colonel  demanding  who  was  there,  and 
receiving  for  reply  that  the  visitants  were  “ friends 
to  King  George,”  told  the  unwelcome  intruders  that 
he  was  blind  and  unable  to  wait  upon  them,  but 
that  his  wife  would  admit  them  forthwith.  Lighting 
a candle  and  merely  putting  on  her  slippers,  she 
descended,  awoke  her  sons,  put  pistols  in  their 
hands,  and,  pointing  to  the  back  door,  told  them 
to  flee.  She  then  let  the  soldiers  in  at  the  front 
door.  They  inquired  for  Colonel  Fitzhugh,  and  said 
he  must  come  down  stairs  at  once  and  go  as  a 
jmsoner  to  New  York.  She  accordingly  dressed  her 
husband  — forgetting  meanwhile,  to  do  as  much  for 
herself — and  when  he  had  descended,  he  assured 
the  soldiers  that  his  blindness,  and  the  infirmities 
of  age  unfitted  him  to  take  care  of  himself,  and 
that  it  could  \ardly  be  desirable  for  them  to  take 
in  charge  so  decrepit  and  inoffensive  a person. 
They  thought  otherwise;  and  his  wife,  seeing  he 
must  go,  took  his  arm  and  said  she  would  go  too. 
The  officer  told  her  she  wonld  be  exposed  and 
must  suffer,  but  she  persisted  in  accompanying  him, 
saying  that  he  could  not  take  care  of  himself,  nor, 
if  he  could,  would  she  permit  a separation. 

It  was  a cold  and  rainy  night,  and  with  the 
mere  protection  of  a cloak,  which  the  officer  took 
down  and  threw  over  her  shoulders  before  leaving 
the  house,  she  sallied  forth  with  the  party;  While 
on  the  way  to  their  boat,  the  report  of  a gun  was 
heard,  which  the  soldiers  supposed  was  the  signal 
of  a rebel  gathering.  They  hastened  to  the  boat, 


260 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


where  a parole  was  written  out  with  trembling 
hand,  and  placed  in  the  old  gentleman’s  possession. 
Without  even  a benediction,  he  was  left  on  shore 
with  his  faithful  and  fearless  companion,  who  thought 
but  little  of  her  wet  feet  as  she  stood  and  saw  the 
cowardly  detachment  of  British  soldiers  push  off 
and  row  away  with  all  their  might  for  safety. 


ESTHER  GASTON. 


True  fortitude  is  seen  in  great  exploits 
That  justice  warrants  and  that  wisdom  guides. 

Addison. 

The  good  alone  are  great. 

Beattie. 

On  the  morning  of  July  thirtieth,  1770,  Esther 
Gaston,  afterwards  the  wife  of  Alexander  Walker, 
hearing  the  firing  at  the  battle  of  Rocky  Mount,  took 
with  her  a sister-in-law,  and,  well  mounted,  pushed  on 
towards  the  scene  of  conflict.  They  soon  met  two  or 
three  cowardly  men,  hastening  from  the  field  of  ac- 
tion. Esther  hailed  and  rebuked  then,  and  finding 
entreaties  would  not  cause  them  to  retrace  their  steps, 
she  seized  the  gun  from  the  hands  of  one  of  them, 
exclaiming,  “Give  us  your  guns,  then,  and  we  will 
stand  in  your  places.55  The  cowards,  abashed,  now 
wheeled,  and,  in  company  with  the  females,  hurried 
on  to  face  the  cannon’s  mouth. 

While  • the  strife  was  still  raging,  Esther  and  her 
companion  busied  themselves  in  dressing  the  wound- 
ed and  quenching  the  thirst  of  the  dying.  Even 
their  helpless  enemies  shared  in  their  humane  ser- 


vices. 


262 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


During  the  battle  of  Hanging  Rock,  which  occur 
red  the  next  week,  Esther  might  be  seen  at  W axhaw 
church,  which  was  converted  for  the  time  into  a hos- 
pital, administering  to  the  wants  of  the  wounded. 

As  kind  as  patriotic,  with  her  hands  filled  with 
soothing  cordials,  she  was  seen,  through  all  her  life, 
knocking  at  tne  door  of  suffering  humanity. 


REMARKABLE  PRESENCE  OF  MIND  AND 
SELF-POSSESSION. 


Were  I the  monarch  of  the  earth, 

And  master  of  the  swelling  sea, 

I would  not  estimate  their  worth, 

Dear  woman,  half  the  price  of  thee. 

Geo.  P.  Morris. 

Mr.  Ralph  Izard,  a true  “ liberty  man,55  resided* 
during  the  struggle  for  Independence,  near  Dorches- 
ter, in  South  Carolina.  He  was  for  awhile  aid-de- 
camp  to  the  commander  of  the  Light  Troops,  and 
was  an  especial  object  of  British  hatred.  On  one 
occasion,  while  at  home,  he  came  very  near  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  A number  of  British 
soldiers  surrounded  his  house,  and  on  discovering 
them  he  hid  himself  in  the  clothes-press.  They 
were  confident  he  was  in  the  house,  and  having 
instituted  a thorough  but  ineffectual  search,  threat- 
ened to  burn  the  building,  unless  his  wife  would 
point  out  his  place  of  concealment.  She  adroitly 
evaded  answering  directly  all  queries  respecting  his 
quarters.  They  next  robbed  his  wardrobe ; seized 
all  the  better  articles  they  could  find  in  the  house, 
and  even  tried  to  force  off  her  finger-rings.  She 


204 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


still  remained  composed  and  courageous,  yet  courte- 
ous and  urbane,  knowing  that  much,  every  thing, 
in  fact,  depended  on  her  self-control.  Her  calmness 
and  apparent  unconcern  led  the  marauders  to  con- 
clude that  they  had  been  misled  in  supposing  Mr. 
Izard  was  in  the  house  ; and  at  length  they  departed. 
He  then  sprang  from  his  covert,  and,  rushing  out 
by  a back  door,  crossed  the  Ashley  river  and  noti- 
fied the  Americans  on  the  opposite  side,  of  the 
state  of  things. 

Meantime,  the  ruffians  returned  to  the  house,  and, 
strange  to  say,  went  directly  to  the  clothes-press. 
Again  disappointed,  they  retired;  but  they  were 
soon  met  by  a body  of  cavalry,  handsomely  whipped, 
and  all  the  fine  articles  belonging  to  Mr.  Izard’s 
wardrobe  and  house  were  restored. 


THE  WIFE  OF  GOVERNOR  GRISWOLD. 


Happy  the  man,  and  happy  sure  he  was. 

So  wedded. 

Hurdis. 

The  residence  of  the  first  Governor  of  Connecticut, 
was  at  Blackball,  near  Long  Island  Sound.  While 
British  ships  were  lying  at  anchor  in  these  waters  on 
a certain  occasion,  a party  of  marines  in  pursuit  of 
his  Excellency,  presented  themselves  at  the  door.  It 
being  impossible  for  him  to  escape  by  flight,  his  affec- 
tionate and  thoughtful  wife  secreted  him  in  a large 
new  meat  barrel  or  tierce — for  although  he  was  some- 
what corpulent,  he  could  not  vie  in  j)hysical  rotundity 
with  the  early  and  honored  Knickerbocker  magis- 
trates. He  was  cleverly  packed  away  in  the  future 
home  of  doomed  porkers,  just  as  the  soldiers  entered 
and  commenced  their  search.  Not  finding  him  rea- 
dily, they  asked  his  quick-witted  wife  one  or  two  hard 
questions,  but  received  no  very  enlightening  answer. 
The  Legislature  had  convened  a day  or  two  before 
at  Hartford,  and  she  intimated  that  he  was  or  ought 
to  be  at  the  capital.  Unsuccessful  in  their  search, 
the  soldiers  took  their  boat  and  returned  to  the  ship. 
Before  they  had  reached  the  latter,  his  unpacked 
Honor  was  on  a swift  steed,  galloping  to  Guberna 
torial  head-quarters. 


BOLD  EXPLOIT  OF  A YOUNG  GIRL. 


Some  god  impels  with  courage  not  thy  own. 

Pope’s  Homer. 


Robert  Gibbes  was  the  owner  of  a splendid  man- 
sion on  John’s  Island,  a few  miles  from  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  known,  during  the  Revolution,  as  the 
“ Peaceful  Retreat.”  On  his  plantation  the  British 
encamped  on  a certain  occasion ; and  the  American 
authorities  sent  two  galleys  up  the  Stono  river,  on 
which  the  mansion  stood,  to  dislodge  them.  Strict 
injunctions  had  been  given  to  the  men  not  to  fire  on 
the  house,  but  Mr.  Gibbes  not  being  aware  of  this 
fact,  when  the  firing  commenced,  thought  it  advisable 
to  take  his  family  to  some  remote  place  for  shelter. 
They  accordingly  started  in  a cold  and  drizzly  rain 
and  in  a direction  ranging  with  the  fire  of  the  Ameri- 
can guns.  Shot  struck  the  trees  and  cut  the  bushes 
beside  their  path  for  some  distance.  When  about  a 
mile  from  the  mansion,  and  out  of  danger,  reaching 
the  huts  occupied  by  the  negroes  on  the  plantation, 
Mrs.  Gibbes,  being  chilled  and  exhausted,  was  obliged 
to  lie  down.  Here,  when  they  supposed  all  were 
safe,  and  began  to  rejoice  over  their  fortunate  escape, 
to  their  great  astonishment,  they  discovered  that  a 
boy  named  Fenwick,  a member  of  the  family,  had 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


267 


been  left  behind.*  It  was  still  raining,  was  very 
dark,  and  imminent  danger  must  attend  an  effort  to 
rescue  the  lad.  And  who  would  risk  life  in  attempt- 
ing it?  The  servants  refused.  Mr.  Gibbes  was  gouty 
and  feeble,  and  prudence  forbade  him  to  again  ven- 
ture out.  At  length,  the  oldest  daughter  of  the  fa- 
mily, Mary  Ann,  only  thirteen  years  old,  offers  to  go 
alone.  She  hastens  off;  reaches  the  house,  still  in 
possession  of  the  British ; begs  the  sentinel  to  let  her 
enter;  and  though  repeatedly  repulsed,  she  doubles 
the  earnestness  of  her  entreaties,  and  finally  gains 
admittance.  She  finds  the  child  in  the  third  story ; 
clasps  him  in  her  arms;  hastens  down  stairs,  and, 
passing  the  sentry,  flees  with  the  shot  whizzing  past 
her  head ; and  herself  and  the  child  are  soon  with 
the  rest  of  the  family. 


* In  addition  to  her  own  family,  Mrs.  Gibbes  had  the  care  of  the 
seven  orphan  children  of  Mrs.  Fenwick,  her  sister-in-law,  and  two  other 
children.  It  is  not  surprising,  that,  in  the  confusion  of  a sudden  flight 
from  the  house,  one  of  the  number  should  be  left  behind. 


SUSANNA  WRIGHT. 


Work  for  some  good,  be  it  ever  so  slowly; 

Cherish  some  flower,  be  it  ever  so  lowly ; 

Labor — all  labor  is  noble  and  holy. 

Mrs.  Osgood. 

Susanna  Wright  removed  to  this  country  with  her 
parents  from  Warrington,  in  Great  Britain,  in  the 
year  1714.  The  family  settled  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania.  Susanna  was  then  about  seventeen. 
“She  never  married;  but  after  the  death  of  her 
father,  became  the  head  of  her  own  family,  who 
looked  up  to  her  for  advice  and  direction  as  a parent, 
for  her  heart  was  replete  with  every  kind  affection.” 

She  was  a remarkable  economist  of  time,  for 
although  she  had  the  constant  management  of  a large 
family,  and,  at  times,  of  a profitable  establishment, 
she  mastered  many  of  the  sciences ; was  a good 
French,  Latin  and  Italian  scholar ; assisted  neighbors 
in  the  settlement  of  estates,  and  was  frequently  con- 
sulted as  a physician. 

“ She  took  great  delight  in  domestic  manufacture, 
and  had  constantly  much  of  it  produced  in  her  family. 
For  many  years  she  attended  to  the  rearing  of  silk 
worms,  and  with  the  silk,  which  she  reeled  and  pre- 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


2fi9 


pared  herself,  made  many  articles  both  of  beauty 
and  utility,  dying  the  silk  of  various  colors  with  indi- 
genous materials.  She  had  at  one  time  upwards  of 
sixty  yards  of  excellent  mantua  returned  to  her  from 
Great  Britain,  where  she  had  sent  the  raw  silk  to  be 
manufactured.” 

This  industrious  and  pious  Quakeress,  who  seems 
to  have  possessed  all  the  excellencies  defined  in  Solo- 
mon’s inventory  of  the  virtuous  woman,  lived  more 
than  four  score  years,  an  ornament  to  her  sex  and  a 
blessing  to  the  race. 

“ There  was  no  need. 

In  those  good  times,  of  trim  callisthenics, — 

And  there  was  less  of  gadding,  and  far  more 
Of  home-bred,  heart-felt  comfort,  rooted  strong 
In  industry,  and  bearing  such  rare  fruit 
As  wealth  may  never  purchase.’ * 


PATRIOTISM  OF  177  0. 


In  conduct,  as  in  courage,  you  excel. 

Still  first  to  act  what  you  advise  so  well. 

Pope’s  Homer. 

Id  the  early  part  of  February,  1770,  the  women  of 
Boston  publicly  pledged  themselves  to  abstain  from 
the  use  of  tea,  “ as  a practical  execution  of  the  non- 
importation agreement  of  their  fathers,  husbands  and 
brothers.”  We  are  credibly  informed,  writes  the 
editor  of  the  Boston  Gazette  of  February  ninth,  “that 
upwards  of  one  hundred  ladies  at  the  north  part  of 
the  town,  have,  of  their  own  free  will  and  accord, 
come  into  and  signed  an  agreement,  not  to  drink  any 
tea  till  the  Revenue  Acts  are  passed.”  At  that  date 
three  hundred  matrons  had  become  members  of  the 
league. 

Three  days  after  the  above  date,  the  young  womer 
followed  the  example  of  their  mothers,  multitudes 
signing  a document  which  read  as  follows : u We,  the 
daughters  of  those  patriots  who  have  and  do  now 
appear  for  the  public  interest,  and,  in  that,  principally 
regard  their  posterity, — as  such  do  with  pleasure 
engage  with  them  in  denying  ourselves  the  drinking 
of  foreign  tea,  in  hopes  to  frustrate  a plan  which 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


27 1 


tends  to  deprive  the  whole  community  of  all  that  is 
valuable  in  life.55 

Multitudes  of  females  in  New  York  and  Virginia, 
and,  if  we  mistake  not,  some  in  other  states,  made 
similar  movements ; and  it  is  easy  to  perceive,  in  the 
tone  of  those  early  pledges  of  self-denial  for  honor, 
liberty,  country’s  sake,  the  infancy  of  that  spirit  which, 
quickly  reaching  its  manhood,  planned  schemes  of 
resistance  to  oppression  on  a more  magnanimous 
scale,  and  flagged  not  till  a wTork  was  done  which 
filled  half  the  world  with  admiration  and  the  whole 
with  astonishment. 


MRS.  SPALDING  OF  GEORGIA. 


Through  trials  hard  as  these,  how  oft  are  seen 
The  tender  sex,  in  fortitude  serene. 

Ann  Seward. 

Mrs.  Spalding  was  the  niece  of  General  Lachlan 
McIntosh,  daughter  of  Colonel  William  McIntosh  and 
mother  of  Major  Spalding,  of  Georgia. 

In  1778,  after  Colonel  Campbell  took  possession 
of  Savannah,  Georgia,  that  section  of  the  country  was 
infested  with  reckless  marauders,  and  many  families 
fled  to  avoid  their  ruthlessness.  Mr.  Spalding  re- 
tired with  his  wife  and  child  to  Florida;  and  twice 
during  the  Revolution,  she  traversed  “the  two  hun- 
dred miles  between  Savannah  and  St.  John’s  river, 
in  an  open  boat,  with  only  black  servants  on  board, 
when  the  whole  country  was  a desert,  without  a house 
to  shelter  her  and  her  infant  son.” 

The  part  she  bore  in  the  dangers  of  the  Revolution 
and  the  anxieties  to  which  she  was  necessarily  sub- 
jected, so  impaired  her  health  that  “many  years  af- 
terwards it  was  deemed  necessary  that  she  should 
try  the  climate  of  Europe.  In  January,  1800,  she, 
vith  her  son  and  his  wife,  left  Savannah  in  a British 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


273 


ship  of  twenty  guns,  with  fifty  men,  built  in  all  points 
to  resemble  a sloop  of  war,  without  the  appearance 
of  a cargo.  "When  they  had  been  out  about  fifteen 
days,  the  captain  sent  one  morning  at  daylight,  to 
request  the  presence  of  two  of  his  gentlemen  passen- 
gers on  deck.  A large  ship,  painted  black  and  show- 
ing twelve  guns  on  a side,  was  seen  to  windward, 
running  across  their  course.  She  was  obviously  a 
French  privateer.  The  captain  announced  that  there 
was  no  hope  of  out-sailing  her,  should  their  course 
be  altered;  nor  would  there  be  hope  in  a conflict, 
as  those  ships  usually  carried  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men.  Yet  he  judged  that  if  no  effort  were  made 
to  shun  the  privateer,  the  appearance  of  his  ship 
might  deter  from  an  attack.  The  gentlemen  were 
of  the  same  opinion.  Mr.  Spalding,  lieart-sick  at 
thought  of  the  perilous  situation  of  his  wife  and  mo- 
ther, aud  unwilling  to  trust  himself  with  an  interview 
till  the  crisis  was  over,  requested  the  captain  to  go 
below  and  make  what  preparation  he  could  for  their 
security.  After  a few  minutes’  absence  the  captain 
returned  to  describe  a most  touching  scene.  Mrs. 
Spalding  had  placed  her  daughter-in-law  and  the 
other  inmates  of  the  cabin  for  safety  in  the  two  state- 
rooms, filling  the  berths  with  the  cots  and  bedding 
from  the  outer  cabin.  She  had  then  taken  her  sta- 
tion beside  the  scuttle,  which  led  from  the  outer  cabin 
to  the  magazine,  with  two  buckets  of  water.  Having 
noticed  that  the  two  cabin  boys  were  heedless,  she  had 
determined  herself  to  keep  watch  over  the  magazine. 
She  did  so  till  the  danger  was  past.  The  captain  took 


274 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


in  his  light  sails,  hoisted  his  boarding  nettings,  open- 
ed his  ports,  and  stood  on  upon  his  course.  The  pri- 
vateer waited  till  the  ship  was  within  a mile,  then  fired 
a gun  to  windward,  and  stood  on  her  way.  This  ruse 
preserved  the  ship.”* 


Mrs.  Ellet 


COURAGEOUS  ACT  OF  MBS.  DILLARD. 


Thy  country,  glorious,  brave  and  fair, 

Thine  all  of  life  — 

Her  name  alone  thy  heart’s  depths  stirred, 

And  filled  thy  soul  with  war-like  pride. 

Sara  J.  Clarke. 

The  day  before  the  battle  at  the  Green  Spring,  in 
the  Spartanburg  district,  South  Carolina,  Colonel 
Clarke,  of  the  Georgia  volunteers,  with  about  two 
hundred  men,  stopped  at  the  house  of  Captain  Dillard 
and  were  cordially  welcomed  to  a good  supply  of  re- 
freshments. In  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  Colo- 
nel Ferguson  and  another  officer  named  Dunlap,  with 
a party  of  tories,  arrived  at  the  same  house  and  inqui- 
red of  the  mistress,  if  Colonel  Clarke  had  been  there, 
to  which  question  she  gave  a direct  and  honest  an- 
swer. He  then  inquired  in  regard  to  the  time  of 
Clarke’s  departure  and  the  number  of  his  men.  She 
could  not  guess  their  number,  but  said  they  had  been 
gone  a long  time.  She  was  then  ordered  to  get  sup- 
per, which  she  did,  though  in  a less  hospitable  spirit 
than  she  had  prepared  the  previous  meal.  While  at 
work,  she  overheard  some  of  the  conversation  of  the 
officers,  by  which  she  learned  that  they  were  bent  on 


270 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


surprising  Colonel  Clarke,  and  would  start  for  thai 
purpose  when  supper  was  dispatched.  As  soon  as  the 
food  was  on  the  table,  Mrs.  Dillard  hurried  out  at  the 
back  door,  bridled  a horse  that  stood  in  the  stable, 
and  mounting  without  saddle,  rode  till  nearly  day- 
light before  reaching  the  Green  Spring  where  Clarke 
had  encamped,  and  where  he  was  to  be  attacked  by 
Ferguson,  at  the  break  of  day  or  sooner,  as  she  had 
learned  before  starting. 

She  had  just  aroused  the  whigs  and  notified  them 
of  their  danger,  when  a detachment  of  two  hundred 
picked,  mounted  men,  commanded  by  Dunlap,  rushed 
into  the  camp.  They  found  their  intended  victims 
ready  for  the  charge ; were  quickly  driven  out  of  the 
camp,  and  glad  to  escape  by  flight.  Thus,  fortunately 
for  the  friends  of  freedom,  ended  this  battle,  which, 
but  for  the  daring  of  a single  patriotic  woman,  would 
doubtless  have  resulted  in  the  annihilation  of  the  little 
band  of  Georgia  volunteers. 


PHOEBE  PHILLIPS. 


The  secret  pleasure  of  a generous  act 
Is  the  great  mind’s  great  bribe. 

Dryden. 

Phoebe  Foxcroft,  afterwards  the  wife  of  Sanmej 
Phillips,  the  joint  founder,  with  his  uncle,  of  the  aca- 
demy at  Andover,  Massachusetts,  was  a native  of 
Cambridge,  in  the  same  state.  Reared  beneath  the 
shades  of  “Old  Harvard”  and  being  the  daughter  of 
a man  of  wealth  and  high  respectability,  it  is  almost 
needless  to  say  that  she  was  well  educated  and  highly 
refined.  To  mental  attainments  she  added  the  finish- 
ing charm  of  female  character,  glowing  piety.  The 
last  forty  years  or  more  of  her  life  were  passed  at  An- 
dover, where,  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  she 
assisted  in  founding  the  celebrated  Theological  semi- 
nary. She  died  in  1818. 

It  is  said  that  she  was  accustomed,  for  years,  tc 
make  the  health  of  every  pupil  in  the  academy  a sub- 
ject of  personal  interest.  Her  attentions  to  their 
wants  were  impartial  and  incalculably  beneficial.  To 
those  that  came  from  remote  towns,  and  were  thus 
deprived  of  parental  oversight,  she  acted  the  part 
of  a faithful  mother. 


278 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


Affectionate,  kind,  generous,  watchful,  as  a Christian 
guardian  ; she  was  unbending,  self-sacrificing  and 
“ zealous,  yet  modest,51  as  a j>atriot.  During  the  seven 
years’  struggle  for  freedom,  she  frequently  sat  up  till 
midnight  or  past,  preparing  bandages  and  scraping 
lint  for  the  hospitals  and  making  garments  for  the  rag- 
ged soldiers. 

An  offender  of  justice  was  once  passing  her  house 
on  liis  way  to  the  whipping-post,  when  a boy,  who  ob- 
served him  from  her  window,  could  not  withhold  a 
tear.  He  tried  to  conceal  his  emotion,  but  Mrs.  Phil- 
lips saw  the  pearl  drop  of  pity,  and  while  a kindred 
drop  fell  from  her  own  eyes,  she  said  to  him,  with 
much  emphasis  and  as  though  laying  down  some  gol- 
den maxim — “ When  you  become  a law  maker,  ex- 
amine the  subject  of  corporeal  punishment,  and  see 
if  it  is  not  unnatural,  vindictive  and  productive  of 
much  evil.55  She  was  very  discriminating,  and  could 
detect  talent  as  well  as  tears ; and  addressed  the  lad 
with  a premonition  that  he  was  destined  to  become  a 
legislator — which  was  indeed  the  case.  Elected  to  the 
assembly  of  the  state,  with  the  sacred  command  of  his 
early  and  revered  mentor  impressed  on  his  memory, 
lie  early  called  the  attention  of  that  body  to  the  sub- 
ject of  corporeal  punishment;  had  the  statute  book 
revised  and  the  odious  law,  save  in  capital  offences, 
expunged,  and  the  pleasure  of  announcing  the  fact  to 
the  original  suggestor  of  the  movement. 


worthy  '/Sample  of  a poor  widow. 


Howe’er  it  be,  it  seems  to  me 
’Tis  only  noble  to  be  good  ; 

Kind  hearts  are  more  than  coronets, 

And  simple  faith  than  Norman  blood. 

Tennyson. 

The  following  article  was  communicated  to  the 
Christian  Watchman  and  Reflector,  of  Boston,  for 
January  thirtieth,  1851.  The  facts  are  given  without 
coloring  or  embellishment.  The  subject  of  the  article 
has  gone  to  the  grave,  but  the  influence  of  her  ex- 
emplary life  has  not  ceased  to  be  felt.  Her 

“Speaking  dust 

Has  more  of  life  than  half  its  breathing  moulds.” 

Some  twenty  years  since,  the  writer  became  pastor 
of  a church  in  the  town  of  B.  A few  weeks  after 
my  settlement,  I called  at  the  humble  dwelling  of  a 
poor  widow,  with  whom  I had  already  become  some- 
what acquainted.  Having  been  apprised  of  the  high 
estimation  in  which  she  was  held  by  the  church  of 
which  she  was  a member,  for  her  cheerful  and  con- 
sistent piety,  an  interesting  and  profitable  interview 
was  anticipated.  I had  been  seated  but  a few  mo- 
ments when  she  placed  in  my  hand  one  dollar,  and 


280 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


proceeded,  by  way  of  explanation,  to  make  the  fol- 
lowing statements,  which  I give  as  nearly  as  possi 
ble  in  her  own  language  : 

“ Before  you  came  among  us,  our  church  and  peo- 
pie  where  in  a very  depressed  and  disheartened  con- 
dition. For  two  or  three  Sabbaths  we  had  no  reli- 
gious services  during  the  day.  How  sad  to  be  as 
sheep  without  a shepherd,  and  to  have  the  house  of 
God  closed  on  his  holy  day ! If  the  Lord  would  only 
send  us  a pastor,  I felt  willing  to  do  any  thing  in 
my  power  to  aid  in  sustaining  him.  But  then  the 
thought  occurred  to  me,  What  can  you  do,  a poor 
widow,  with  four  small  children  to  support,  and  your 
house  rent  to  pay?  It  is  quite  as  much  as  you 
can  do  to  meet  necessary  expenses.  For  a moment 
I was  sad ; but  my  mind  still  dwelt  upon  the  sub- 
ject, until  finally  this  plan  occurred  to  me  : c God 
has  blessed  you  with  excellent  health,  and  you  can 
sit  up  and  work  between  the  hours  of  nine  and 
eleven  or  twelve  o’clock  at  night ; and  what  you 
thus  earn  you  can  give  for  that  object.’  I was  at 
once  relieved,  and  resolved  before  the  Lord  that, 
if  he  would  send  us  a pastor,  I would  immediately 
commence  my  labors,  and  do  what  I could  to  aid 
in  sustaining  and  encouraging  him.  I felt  that  now 
I could  pray  consistently,  as  I was  willing  to  do 
my  duty.  With  a faith  and  fervor  to  which  I had 
before  been  a stranger,  I besought  the  Lord  speedily 
to  favor  us  with  an  under-shepherd ; and  soon  you 
came  here  to  preach  for  us.  I believed  God  sent 
you ; and  although  at  first  you  had  no  idea  of  re- 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


281 


maining,  I never  doubted  that  you  would  become 
our  pastor.  As  soon  as  you  had  accepted  the  call  of 
the  church,  I began  to  work  in  accordance  with 
my  vow,  and  that  dollar  is  the  result  of  my  earning, 
the  last  four  weeks.  And  O,  you  would  rejoice 
with  me,  could  you  know  how  much  I have  enjoyed 
these  silent  hours  of  night,  when  my  children  around 
me  are  wrapt  in  slumber,  and  all  is  as  the  stillness 
of  the  grave.  The  Lord  has  been  with  me  continually, 
and  I have  had  uninterrupted  communion  with  him. 
When  God  had  given  us  a pastor,  I felt  I must  pray 
for  a blessing  to  attend  his  labors  among  us ; and, 
often  have  I been  so  impressed  with  the  importance 
of  a revival  of  religion,  and  the  conversion  of  my 
children,  and  the  people  of  this  place,  that  I have 
been  obliged  to  leave  my  work,  and  kneel  down  be- 
fore my  Maker,  and  earnestly  plead  with  him  that 
his  Spirit  may  accomplish  this  work.  Even  after  I 
had  retired  to  rest,  I have  sometimes  been  obliged 
to  arise  and  pray  that  he  would  save  the  souls  of 
this  people.  And,  blessed  be  his  holy  name,  he  has 
listened  to  prayer  for  this  object  also.  When  I 
heard  of  the  numbers  who  attended  the  religious 
inquiry  meeting,  and  the  hopeful  conversion  of  some 
to  God,  I felt  I could  say,  ‘ This  is  the  Lord,  I have 
waited  for  him  ;5  and  I believe  he  will  do  greater 
things  than  these  in  our  midst.  Thus  has  God  bles- 
sed one  of  the  most  unworthy  of  all  his  creatures  ; 
and  I have  often  been  led  to  sing,  while  I have 
been  laboring  here,  lowly  as  is  my  condition. 


282 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


* I would  not  change  my  blest  estate, 

With  all  that  earth  calls  rich  or  great ; 

And,  while  my  faith  can  keep  her  hold, 

I envy  not  the  sinner’s  gold.’ 99 

My  attention  had  been  absorbed  with  this  inte- 
resting and  affecting  narrative;  nor  had  I any  in- 
clination to  interrupt  it  with  remarks  of  my  own. 
I now  thought  I could  read  the  secret  of  the  appa- 
rent success  which  had  attended  my  labors  in  so 
short  a time.  As  soon  as  1 could  recover  from  my 
emotions,  I said  to  her,  I am  grateful  for  your  pray- 
ers and  this  proffered  donation  ; but,  as  my  parish 
affords  me  a competent  support,  I can  on  no  account 
feel  at  liberty  to  appropriate  to  my  own  private  use 
the  money  thus  earned.  No;  you  shall  have  the  ad- 
ditional satisfaction,  while  you  are  toiling  at  these 
unseasonable  hours  of  night,  of  knowing  that  what 
you  place  in  my  hands  shall  be  sacredly  devoted 
to  the  cause  of  Christian  benevolence,  which  I am 
sure  you  ardently  love.  With  this  she  expressed 
herself  satisfied  ; and  continued  her  toils  and  prayers. 

It  may  be  asked,  What  was  the  result?  The  an- 
swer is  recorded  with  pleasure,  and,  I trust,  with 
gratitude  to  God.  Besides  punctually  attending  all 
the  meetings  of  the  church,  and  laboring  much  in 
private  for  the  eternal  welfare  of  souls  ; besides  sup- 
porting her  family  with  more  ease  than  formerly, 
as  she  stated  to  her  pastor,  at  the  close  of  the  first 
year,  and  paying  her  assessments  in  several  chari- 
table societies  to  which  she  belonged,  and  also  con- 
tributing something  whenever  a public  collection 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN.  2-S3 

was  taken  for  benevolent  objects;  in  addition  to  all 
this,  she  had  placed  in  my  hands  ten  dollars  and  a 
half,  which  was  appropriated  as  stated  above.  Her 
donations  for  objects  of  religious  charity  must  have 
amounted  to  at  least  twelve  dollars  during  that  year, 
which,  it  is  presumed,  exceeded  the  amount  given  for 
similar  objects  by  any  other  member  of  the  church, 
although  quite  a number  possessed  a comfortable 
share  of  wealth.  It  may  be  thought  that  she  was 
engaged  in  some  business  which  yielded  a handsome 
profit  to  reward  her  toils.  But  no ; her  business 
was  shoe-binding,  not  then  by  any  means  very  profita- 
ble. Ann  who,  with  her  disposition  and  spirit,  could 
not  do  something  to  aid  the  cause  of  God?  But 
what  she  earned  and  gave  was  not  all.  Her  prayers, 
it  is  believed,  had  secured  for  the  church  a pastor, 
and  been  the  means,  with  others,  of  the  commence- 
ment of  a revival  of  religion,  which  continued  to 
prevail  to  a greater  or  less  extent,  for  three  successive 
years,  during  which  time  a large  number  were  hope- 
fully converted  and  added  to  the  church  : and  among 
them  sovei'^l  of  her  older  children,  who  were  away 
from  hc\nr 

vfa  / 


t 


ELIZABETH  ESTAUGH. 


A perfect  woman,  nobly  planned, 

To  warn,  to  comfort  and  command  ; 

And  yet  a spirit  still,  and  bright 
With  something  of  an  angel  light. 

Wordsworth. 

Elizabeth  *IIaddon  was  the  oldest  daughter  of  John 
Haddon,  a well  educated  and  wealthy,  yet  humble, 
Quaker,  of  London.  She  had  two  sisters,  both  of 
whom,  with  herself,  received  the  highest  finish  of  a 
practical  education.  Elizabeth  possessed  uncommon 
strength  of  mind,  earnestness,  energy  and  ^ origi- 
nality of  character,  and  a heart  overflowing  with  the 
kindest  and  warmest  feelings.  A single  Sine-dote  of 
her  childhood,  told  by  Mrs.  Child,  will  illustrate  the 
nobleness  of  nature  which  characterized  her  Ji’fe : 

“At  one  time,  she  asked  to  have  a lurge  cake 
baked,  because  she  wanted  to  invite  some  Kctle  girls* 
All  her  small  funds  were  expended  lor  oranges  and 
candy  on  this  occasion.  When  the  tim*e  drived,  her 
father  and  mother  were  much  surprised  to  see  her 
lead  in  six  little  ragged  beggars.  T^iey  were,  how- 
ever, too  sincerely  humble  and  religious  to  express 
any  surprise.  They  treated  the  fori  orn  ittle  one. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


285 


very  tenderly,  and  freely  granted  their  daughter’s  re- 
quest  to  give  them  some  of . her  books  and  playthings 
at  parting.  When  they  had  gone,  the  good  mother 
quietly  said,  ‘Elizabeth,  why  didst  thou  invite  stran- 
gers, instead  of  thy  schoolmates?’  There  was  a hea- 
venly expression  in  her  eye,  as  she  looked  up  earn- 
estly, and  answered,  c Mother,  I wanted  to  invite  them , 
they  looked  so  poor.’  ” 

When  eleven  years  of  age,  she  accompanied  her 
parents  to  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  the  Friends,  where 
she  heard,  among  other  preachers,  a very  young  man 
named  John  Estaugh,  with  whose  manner  of  present- 
ing divine  truth  she  was  particularly  pleased.  Many 
of  his  words  were  treasured  in  her  memory.  At  the 
age  of  seventeen  she  made  a profession  of  religion, 
uniting  herself  with  the  Quakers. 

During  her  early  youth,  William  Penn  visited  the 
house  of  her  father,  and  greatly  amused  her  b 
scribing  his  adventures  with  the  Indians.  Frj 
time  she  became  interested  in  the  emigrant 
and  early  began  to  talk  of  coming  to  Amerid 
father  at  length  purchased  a tract  of  land  :| 

Jersey,  with  the  view  of  emigrating,  but  his 
took  a new  turn,  and  he  made  up  his  mind  to  remain 
in  his  native  land.  This  decision  disappointed  Eliza- 
beth. She  had  cherished  the  conviction  that  it  was 
her  duty  to  come  to  this  country ; and  when,  at 
length,  her  father,  who  was  unwilling  that  any  of  his 
property  should  lie  unimproved,  offered  the  tract  of 
land  in  New  Jersey  to  any  relative  who  would  settle 
upon  it,  she  promptly  agreed  to  accept  of  the 


286 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


proffered  estate.  Willing  that  their  child  should  fob 
low  in  the  path  of  duty,  at  the  end  of  three  months, 
and  after  much  prayer,  the  parents  consented  to  let 
Elizabeth  join  “ the  Lord’s  people  in  the  New 
World.” 

Accordingly,  early  in  the  spring  of  1700,  writes 
Mrs.  Child,  in  whose  sweet  language,  slightly  con- 
densed, the  rest  of  the  narrative  is  told,  arrange- 
ments were  made  for  her  departure,  and  all  things 
were  provided  that  the  abundance  of  wealth,  or  the 
ingenuity  of  affection,  could  devise. 

A poor  widow  of  good  sense  and  discretion  accom- 
panied her,  as  friend  and  housekeeper,  and  two  trusty 
men  servants,  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 
Among  the  many  singular  manifestations  of  strong 
faith  and  religious  zeal,  connected  with  the  settle- 
ment of  this  country,  few  are  more  remarkable  than 
oluntary  separation  of  this  girl  of  eighteen  years 
m a wealthy  home  and  all  the  pleasant  asso- 
of  childhood,  to  go  to  a distant  and  thinly 
ed  country,  to  fulfill  what  she  considered  a 
is  duty.  And  the  humble,  self-sacrificing  faith 
ie  parents,  in  giving  up  their  child,  with  such 
reverend  tenderness  for  the  promptings  of  her  own 
conscience,  has  in  it  something  sublimely  beautiful, 
if  we  look  at  it  in  its  own  pure  light.  The  parting 
took  place  with  more  love  than  words  can  express, 
and  yet  without  a tear  on  either  side.  Even  during 
the  long  and  tedious  voyage,  Elizabeth  never  wept. 
She  preserved  a martyr-like  cheerfulness  and  sere- 
nity to  the  end. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


287 


The  house  prepared  for  her  reception  stood  in  a 
clearing  of  the  forest,  three  miles  from  any  other 
dwelling.  She  arrived  in  June,  when  the  landscape 
was  smiling  in  youthful  beauty ; and  it  seemed  to  her 
as  if  the  arch  of  heaven  was  never  before  so  clear  and 
bright,  the  carpet  of  the  earth  never  so  verdant.  As 
she  sat  at  her  window  and  saw  evening  close  in  upon 
her  in  that  broad  forest  home,  and  heard,  for  the 
first  time,  the  mournful  notes  of  the  whippo-wil  and 
the  harsh  scream  of  the  jay  in  the  distant  woods, 
she  was  oppressed  with  a sense  of  vastness,  of  infi- 
nity, which  she  never  before  experienced,  not  even 
on  the  ocean.  She  remained  long  in  prayer,  and 
when  she  lay  down  to  sleep  beside  her  matron  friend, 
no  words  were  spoken  between  them.  The  elder, 
overcome  with  fatigue,  soon  sank  into  a peaceful 
slumber;  but  the  young  enthusiast  lay  long  awake, 
listening  to  the  lone  voice  of  the  whippo-wil  com- 
plaining to  the  night.  Yet,  notwithstanding  this  pro- 
longed wakefulness,  she  arose  early  and  looked  out 
upon  the  lovely  landscape.  The  rising  sun  pointed 
to  the  tallest  trees  with  his  golden  finger,  and  was 
welcomed  with  a gush  of  song  from  a thousand  war- 
blers. The  poetry  in  Elizabeth’s  soul,  repressed  by 
the  severe  plainness  of  her  education,  gushed  up  like 
a fountain.  She  dropped  on  her  knees,  and,  with 
an  outburst  of  prayer,  exclaimed  fervently,  “ Oh,  Fa- 
ther, very  beautiful  hast  thou  made  this  earth ! How 
bountiful  are  thy  gifts,  O Lord ! ” 

To  a spirit  less  meek  and  brave,  the  darker  shades 
of  the  picture  would  have  obscured  these  cheerfu1 


288 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


gleams ; for  the  situation  was  lonely  and  the  incon 
veniences  innumerable.  But  Elizabeth  easily  tri- 
umphed over  all  obstacles,  by  practical  good  sense 
and  the  quick  promptings  of  her  ingenuity.  She 
was  one  of  those  clear  strong  natures,  who  always 
have  a definite  aim  in  view,  and  who  see  at  once 
the  means  best  suited  to  the  end.  Her  first  inquiry 
was  what  grain  was  best  adapted  to  the  soil  of  her 
farm ; and  being  informed  that  rye  would  yield  best, 
“Then  I shall  eat  rye  bread,”  was  her  answer.  But 
when  winter  came,  and  the  gleaming  snow  spread 
its  unbroken  silence  over  hill  and  plain,  was  it  not 
dreary  then?  It  would  have  been  dreary  indeed  to 
one  who  entered  upon  this  mode  of  life  from  mere 
love  of  novelty,  or  a vain  desire  to  do  something  ex- 
traordinary. But  the  idea  of  extended  usefulness, 
which  had  first  lured  this  remarkable  girl  into  a 
path  so  unusual,  sustained  her  through  all  trials.  She 
was  too  busy  to  be  sad,  and  leaned  too  trustingly 
on  her  Father’s  hand  to  be  doubtful  of  her  way.  The 
neighboring  Indians  soon  loved  her  as  a friend,  for 
they  found  her  always  truthful,  just,  and  kind.  From 
their  teachings,  she  added  much  to  her  knowledge 
of  simple  medicines.  So  efficient  was  her  skill  and 
so  prompt  her  sympathy,  that  for  many  miles  round, 
if  man,  woman,  or  child  were  alarmingly  ill,  they 
were  sure  to  send  for  Elizabeth  Haddon ; and  wher- 
ever she  went,  her  observing  mind  gathered  some 
hint  for  the  improvement  of  farm  or  dairy.  Her 
house  and  heart  were  both  large;  and  as  her  resi- 
dence was  on  the  way  to  the  Quaker  meeting-house 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


289 


in  Newtown,  it  became  a place  of  universal  resort  to 
Friends  from  all  parts  of  the  country  traveling  that 
road,  as  well  as  an  asylum  for  benighted  wanderers. 

The  winter  was  drawing  to  a close,  when  late  one 
evening,  the  sound  of  sleigh-bells  was  heard,  and 
the  crunching  of  snow  beneath  the  hoofs  of  horses, 
as  they  passed  into  the  barn-yard  gate.  The  arrival 
of  travelers  was  too  common  an  occurrence  to  excite 
or  disturb  the  well-ordered  family. 

Great  logs  were  piled  in  the  capacious  chimney, 
and  the  flames  blazed  up  with  a crackling  warmth, 
when  two  strangers  entered.  In  the  younger,  Eliza- 
beth instantly  recognized  John  Estaugh,  wdiose  preach- 
ing had  so  deeply  impressed  her  at  eleven  years 
of  age.  This  was  almost  like  a glimpse  of  home  — 
her  dear  old  English  home!  She  stepped  forward 
with  more  than  usual  cordiality,  saying: 

“ Thou  art  welcome,  Friend  Estaugh;  the  more  so 
for  being  entirely  unexpected.55 

“And  I am  glad  to  see  thee,  Elizabeth,55  he  replied 
with  a friendly  shake  of  the  hand.  “It  was  not  until 
after  I landed  in  America,  that  I heard  the  Lord 
had  called  thee  hither  before  me;  but  I remember 
thy  father  told  me  how  often  thou  hadst  played  the 
settler  in  the  woods,  when  thou  wast  quite  a little 
girl.55 

“I  am  but  a child  still,55  she  replied,  smiling. 

“I  trust  thou  art,55  he  rejoined;  “and  as  for 
these  strong  impressions  in  childhood,  I have  heard 
of  many  cases  where  they  seemed  to  be  prophecies 
sei  t of  the  T -ord.  When  I saw  thy  father  in  Lon- 
19 


290 


tfOBLE  DEEDS 


don,  I had  even  then  an  indistinct  idea  that  1 
might  sometime  be  sent  to  America  on  a religious 
visit.” 

“ And  hast  thou  forgotten,  Friend  John,  the  ear  of 
Indian  corn  which  my  father  begged  of  thee  for  me  ? 
I can  show  it  to  thee  now.  Since  then  I have  seen 
this  grain  in  perfect  growth;  and  a goodly  plant  it 
is,  I assure  thee.  See,”  she  continued,  pointing  to 
many  bunches  of  ripe  corn,  which  hung  in  their 
braided  husks  against  the  walls  of  the  ample  kitch- 
en : “ all  that,  and  more,  came  from  a single  ear,  no 
bigger  than  the  one  thou  didst  give  my  father. 
May  the  seed  sown  by  thy  ministry  be  as  fruitful !” 
“Amen,”  replied  both  the  guests. 

The  next  morning,  it  was  discovered  that  snow 
had  fallen  during  the  night  in  heavy  drifts,  and  the 
roads  were  impassable.  Elizabeth,  according  to  her 
usual  custom,  sent  out  men,  oxen  and  sledges,  to 
open  pathways  for  several  poor  families,  and  for 
households  whose  inmates  were  visited  by  illness. 
In  this  duty,  John  Estaugh  and  his  friend  joined 
heartily  imd  none  of  the  laborers  worked  harder 
than  they.  When  he  returned,  glowing  from  this 
exercise,  she  could  not  but  observe  that  the  excel 
lent  youth  had  a goodly  countenance.  It  was  not 
physical  beauty;  for  of  that  he  had  little.  It  was 
that  cheerful,  child-like,  out-beaming  honesty  of  ex 
pression,  which  we  not  unfrequently  see  in  Ger 
mans,  who,  above  all  nations,  look  as  if  they  carried 
a crystal  heart  within  their  manly  bosoms. 

Two  days  after,  when  Elizabeth  went  to  visit  her 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


291 


patients,  with  aisled-load  of  medicines  and  provi- 
sions, John  asked  permission  to  accompany  her. 
There,  by  the  bedside  of  the  aged  and  the  suffering, 
* she  saw  the  clear  sincerity  of  his  countenance 
warmed  with  rays  of  love,  while  he  spoke  to  them 
words  of  kindness  and  consolation;  and  there  she 
heard  his  pleasant  voice  modulate  itself  into  deeper 
tenderness  of  expression,  when  he  took  little  child- 
ren in  his  arms. 

The  next  First  day,  which  we  call  the  Sabbath, 
the  whole  family  attended  Newtown  meeting;  and 
there  John  Estaugh  was  gifted  with  an  out-pouring 
of  the  spirit  in  his  ministry,  which  sank  deep  into 
the  hearts  of  those  who  listened  to  him.  Elizabeth 
found  it  so  marvellously  applicable  to  the  trials  and 
temptations  of  her  own  soul,  that  she  almost  deem- 
ed it  wTas  spoken  on  purpose  for  her.  She  said  no- 
thing of  this,  but  she  pondered  upon  it  deeply. 
Thus  did  a few  days  of  united  duties  make  them 
more  thoroughly  acquainted  with  each  other,  than 
they  could  have  been  by  years  of  fashionable  inter- 
course. 

The  young  preacher  soon  after  bade  farewell,  to 
visit  other  meetings  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jer- 
sey. Elizabeth  saw  him  no  more  until  the  May 
following,  when  he  stopped  at  her  house  to  lodge, 
with  numerous  other  Friends,  on  their  way  to  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  at  Salem.  In  the  morning,  quite 
a cavalcade  started  from  her  hospitable  door,  on 
horseback;  for  wagons  were  then  unknown  in  Jer- 
sey. John  Estaugh,  always  kindly  in  his  impulses, 


292 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


busied  himself  with  helping  a lame  and  very  ugly 
old  woman,  and  left  his  hostess  to  mount  her  horse 
as  she  could.  Most  young  women  would  have  felt 
slighted ; but  in  Elizabeth’s  noble  soul  the  quiet 
deep  tide  of  feeling  rippled  with  an  inward  joy.  “He 
is  always  kindest  to  the  poor  and  the  neglected,” 
thought  she;  “verily  he  is  a good  youth.”  She  was 
leaning  over  the  side  of  her  horse,  to  adjust  the 
buckle  of  the  girth,  wdien  he  came  up  on  horseback, 
and  inquired  if  anything  was  out  of  order.  She 
thanked  him,  with  slight  confusion  of  manner,  and 
a voice  less  calm  than  her  usual  utterance.  He  as- 
sisted her  to  mount,  and  they  trotted  along  leisurely 
behind  the  procession  of  guests,  speaking  of  the  soil 
and  climate  of  this  new  country,  and  how  wonder- 
fully the  Lord  had  here  provided  a home  for  his 
chosen  people.  Presently  the  girth  began  to  slip, 
and  the  saddle  turned  so  much  on  one  side,  that 
Elizabeth  was  obliged  to  dismount.  It  took  some 
time  to  re-adjust  it,  and  when  they  again  started, 
the  company  were  out  of  sight.  There  was  brighter 
color  than  usual  in  the  maiden’s  cheeks,  and  unwon- 
ted radiance  in  her  mild  deep  eyes.  After  a short 
silence,  she  said,  in  a voice  slightly  tremulous, 
“Friend  John,  I have  a subject  of  importance  on  my 
mind,  and  one  which  nearly  interests  thee.  I am 
strongly  impressed  that  the  Lord  has  sent  thee  to 
me  as  a partner  for  life*  I tell  thee  my  impression 
frankly,  but  not  without  calm  and  deep  reflection; 
for  matrimony  is  a holy  relation,  and  should  be  en 
tered  into  with  all  sobriety.  If  thou  hast  no  light 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


293 


on  the  subject,  wilt  thou  gather  into  the  stillness, 
and  reverently  listen  to  thy  own  inward  revealings? 
Thou  art  to  leave  this  part  of  the  country  to-mor 
row,  and  not  knowing  when  I should  see  the  again, 
I felt  moved  to  tell  thee  what  lay  upon  my  mind.” 
The  young  man  was  taken  by  surprise.  Though 
accustomed  to  that  suppression  of  emotion  which 
characterizes  his  religious  sect,  the  color  went  and 
came  rapidly  in  his  face,  for  a moment ; but  he  soon 
became  calmer,  and  replied,  “This  thought  is  new 
to  me,  Elizabeth ; and  I have  no  light  thereon.  Thy 
company  has  been  right  pleasant  to  me,  and  thy 
countenance  ever  reminds  me  of  William  Penn’s 
title  page,  c Innocency  with  her  open  face.’  I have 
seen  thy  kindness  to  the  poor,  and  the  wdse  man- 
agement of  thy  household.  I have  observed,  too, 
that  thy  warm-heartedness  is  tempered  by  a most 
excellent  discretion,  and  that  thy  speech  is  ever 
sincere.  Assuredly,  such  is  the  maiden  I would  ask 
of  the  Lord,  as  a most  precious  gift;  but  I never 
thought  of  this  connexion  with  thee.  I came  to 
this  country  solely  on  a religious  visit,  and  it  might 
distract  my  mind  to  entertain  this  subject  at  pre- 
sent. When  I have  discharged  the  duties  of  my 
mission,  we  will  speak  further.” 

“It  is  best  so,”  rejoined  the  maiden;  “but  there 
is  one  thing  disturbs  my  conscience.  Thou  hast 
spoken  of  my  true  speech;  and  yet,  Friend  John,  I 
have  deceived  thee  a little,  even  now,  wThile  we  con- 
ferred together  on  a subject  so  serious.  I know  not 
from  what  weakness  the  temptation  came;  but  ] 


294 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


will  not  hide  it  from  thee.  I allowed  thee  to  sup- 
pose, just  now,  that  I was  fastening  the  girth  of  my 
horse  securely;  but,  in  plain  truth,  I was  loosening 
the  girth,  John,  that  the  saddle  might  slip,  and  give 
me  an  excuse  to  fall  behind  our  friends ; for  I 
thought  thou  wouldst  be  kind  enough  to  come  and 
ask  if  I needed  thy  services.” 

They  spoke  no  further  concerning  their  union ; but 
when  he  returned  to  England,  in  July,  he  pressed  her 
hand  affectionately,  as  he  said,  “ Farewell,  Elizabeth. 
If  it  be  the  Lord’s  will,  I shall  return  to  thee  soon.” 

In  October,  he  returned  to  America,  and  they 
were  soon  married,  at  Newtown  meeting,  accor- 
ding to  the  simple  form  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 
Neither  of  them  made  any  change  of  dress  for  the 
occasion,  and  there  was  no  wedding  feast.  Without 
the  aid  of  priest  or  magistrate,  they  took  each 
other  by  the  hand,  and,  in  the  presence  of  witnes- 
ses, calmly  and  solemnly  promised  to  be  kind  and 
faithful  to  each  other.  The  wedded  pair  quietly  re- 
turned to  their  happy  home,  with  none  to  intrude 
upon  those  sacred  hours  of  human  life,  when  the 
heart  most  needs  to  be  left  alone  with  its  own  deep 
emotions. 

During  the  long  period  of  their  union,  she  three 
times  crossed  the  Atlantic,  to  visit  her  aged  pa- 
rents, and  he  occasionally  left  her  for  a season, 
when  called  abroad  to  preach.  These  temporary 
separations  were  felt  as  a cross,  but  the  strong-hear- 
ted woman  always  cheerfully  gave  him  up  to  follow 
his  own  convictions  of  duty.  In  1742,  he  parted 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


295 


from  her,  to  go  on  a religious  visit  to  Tortola,  in 
the  West  Indies.  He  died  there,  in  the  sixty- 
seventh  year  of  his  age.  She  published  a religious 
tract  of  his,  to  which  is  prefixed  a preface  entitled 
“ Elizabeth  Estaugh’s  testimony  concerning  her  be- 
loved husband,  John  Estaugh.”  In  this  preface,  she 
says,  “ Since  it  pleased  Divine  Providence  so  high- 
ly to  favor  me,  wfith  being  the  near  companion  of 
this  dear  worthy,  I must  give  some  small  account 
of  him.  Few,  if  any,  in  a married  state,  ever  lived 
in  sweeter  harmony  than  we  did.  He  was  a pat- 
tern of  moderation  in  all  things ; not  lifted  up  wfith 
any  enjoyments,  nor  cast  down  at  disappointments  ; 
a man  endowed  with  many  good  gifts,  which  ren 
dered  him  very  agreeable  to  his  friends,  and  much 
more  to  me,  his  wife,  to  whom  his  memory  is  most 
dear  and  precious.5’ 

Elizabeth  survived  her  excellent  husband  twenty 
years,  useful  and  honored  to  the  last.  The  month- 
ly Meeting  of  Haddonfield,  in  a published  testimo- 
nial, speak  of  her  thus:  “She  was  endowed  wfith 
great  natural  abilities,  w^hich,  being  sanctified  by 
the  spirit  of  Christ,  were  much  improved;  whereby 
she  became  qualified  to  act  in  the  affairs  of  the 
church,  and  was  a serviceable  member,  having  been 
clerk  to  the  women’s  meeting  nearly  fifty  years, 
greatly  to  their  satisfaction.  She  was  a sincere  sym- 
pathizer with  the  afflicted,  of  a benevolent  disposi- 
tion, and  in  distributing  to  the  poor,  was  desirous 
to  do  it  in  a way  most  profitable  and  durable  to 
them,  and,  if  possible,  not  to  let  the  right  hand  know 


296 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


what  the  left  did.  Though  in  a state  of  affluence 
as  to  this  world’s  wealth,  she  was  an  example  of 
plainness  and  moderation.  Her  heart  and  house 
were  open  to  her  friends,  whom  to  entertain  seemed 
one  of  her  greatest  pleasures.  Prudently  cheer- 
ful, and  well  knowing  the  value  of  friendship,  she 
was  careful  not  to  wound  it  herself,  nor  to  encou- 
rage others  in  whispering  supposed  failings  or  weak- 
nesses. Her  last  illness  brought  great  bodily  pain, 
which  she  bore  with  much  calmness  of  mind  and 
sweetness  of  spirit.  She  departed  this  life  as  one 
falling  asleep,  full  of  days,  like  unto  a shock  of 
corn,  fully  ripe.” 

The  town  of  Haddonfield,  in  New  Jersey,  took  its 
name  from  her;  and  the  tradition  concerning  her 
courtship  is  often  repeated  by  some  patriarch  among 
the  Quakers. 

Her  medical  skill  is  so  well  remembered,  that  the 
old  nurses  of  New  Jersey  still  recommend  Eliza- 
beth Estaugh’s  salve  as  the  “ sovereignest  thing  on 
earth.” 


KATE  MOORE. 


From  lowest  place  when  virtuous  things  proceed. 

The  place  is  dignified  by  the  doer’s  deed. 

Shakspeare. 

Kate  Moore  is  the  daughter  of  Captain  Moore, 
keeper  of  the  Light  House  on  Fairweather  Island, 
sixty  miles  north  of  the  city  of  New  York,  and  about 
half  way  between  the  harbors  of  Black  Rock  and 
Bridgeport,  Connecticut.  The  island  is  about  half  a 
mile  from  shore  and  contains  five  acres  of  land.  On 
that  little,  secluded  spot  Captain  Moore  has  resided 
nearly  a quarter  of  a century,  and  has  reared  a fam- 
ily of  five  children,  of  whom  Kate  is  the  heroine. 

Disasters  frequently  occur  to  vessels  which  are 
driven  round  Montauk  Point,  and  sometimes  in  the 
Sound,  when  they  are  homeward  bound ; and  at  such 
times  she  is  always  on  the  alert.  She  has  so  thoroughly 
cultivated  the  sense  of  hearing,  that  she  can  distin- 
guish amid  the  howling  storm,  the  shrieks  of  the 
drowning  mariners,  and  thus  direct  a boat,  which  she 
has  learned  to  manage  most  dexterously,  in  the  darkest 
night,  to  the  spot  where  a fellow  mortal  is  perishing 


298 


NOBLE  DEEOS 


Though  well  educated  and  refined,  she  possesses  none 
of  the  affected  delicacy  which  characterizes  too  many 
town-bred  misses ; but,  adapting  herself  to  the  peculiar 
exigences  of  her  father’s  humble  yet  honorable  calling, 
she  is  ever  ready  to  lend  a helping  hand,  and  shrinks 
from  no  danger,  if  duty  points  that  way.  In  the  gloom 
and  terror  of  the  stormy  night,  amid  perils  at  all  hours 
of  the  day,  and  all  seasons  of  the  year,  she  has  launched 
her  barque  on  the  threatening  waves ; and  has  assisted 
her  aged  and  feeble  father  in  saving  the  lives  of  twenty- 
one  persons  during  the  last  fifteen  years!  Such  con- 
duct, like  that  of  Grace  Darling,  to  whom  Kate  Moore 
has  been  justly  compared,  needs  no  comment;  it  stamps 
its  moral  at  once  and  indelibly  upon  the  heart  of  every 
reader. 


CAF  .TYITY  OF  MRS.  ROWLANDSON. 


Through  sorrowing  and  suffering  thou  hast  pass’d. 

To  show  us  what  a woman  true  may  be. 

Lowell. 

Mrs.  Mary  Rowlandson,  the  wife  of  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Rowlandson,  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  In- 
dians at  Lancaster,  Massachusetts,  on  the  tenth  of 
February,  1676,  and  remained  in  captivity  till  the 
third  of  the  following  May.  The  details  of  her 
sufferings,  as  related  by  herself,  are  too  painful  for 
many  persons  to  read ; but  she  bore  them  with  such 
Christian  fortitude,  that  nothing  short  of  a brief  ac 
count  of  her  captivity  would  seem  to  be  excusable 
in  a work  like  this. 

The  day  after  the  destruction  of  Lancaster,  the 
Indians  began  their  march ; and  Mrs.  Rowlandson 
carried  her  infant  till  her  strength  failed  and  she 
fell.  She  was  then  furnished  with  a horse,  without 
a saddle.  Attempting  to  ride,  she  again  fell. 
Towards  night  it  -began  to  snow;  and  gathering  a 
few  sticks,  she  made  a fire.  Sitting  beside  it  on  the 
snow,  she  held  her  child  in  her  arms  through  the 
long  and  dismal  night.  For  three  or  foui  days  she 


300 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


had  no  sustenance  but  water ; nor  did  her  child  share 
any  better  for  nine  days.  During  this  time  it  was 
constantly  in  her  arms  or  lap.  At  the  end  of  that 
period,  the  frost  of  death  crept  into  its  eyes,  and 
she  was  forced  to  relinquish  it  to  be  disposed  of 
by  the  unfeeling  sextons  of  the  forest. 

After  its  burial,  Mrs.  Rowlandson  was  sold  by  her 
Narraganset  captor  to  a Sagamore  named  Quanopin, 
by  which  transfer  she  found  in  her  new  master’s 
wife  “a  most  uncomfortable  mistress.”  Soon  after- 
wards the  Indians  went  on  an  expedition  to  Med- 
field,  and  on  their  return  one  of  them  gave  her  a 
Bible  — her  best  friend  and  great  support  during 
her  sufferings  and  trials.  She  retained  it  during 
her  captivity. 

The  party  of  Indians  with  whom  she  continued, 
remained  for  some  time  near  Petersham,  in  Wor- 
cester county.  At  length,  hearing  a report  that  tho 
pale  faces  were  in  pursuit  of  them,  they  hastily 
decamped  and  continued  their  march  till  they  cros- 
sed the  Connecticut  river,  in  the  neighborhood  ol 
Gill  or  Bernardston.  There  Mrs.  Rowlandson  came 
in  contact  with  the  great  chief,  Philip,  who  treated 
her  civilly  and  even  politely.  Ere  long  the  Indians 
re-crossed  the  Connecticut,  and  returned  into  Worces- 
ter county.  During  this  part  of  her  pilgrimage, 
writes  .President  Dwight,  whose  concise  narrative  we 
have  followed,  “ Mrs.  Rowlandson  went  through 
almost  every  suffering  but  death.  She  was  beaten, 
kicked,  turned  out  of  doors,  refused  food,  insulted 
in  the  grossest  manner,  and  at  times  almost  starved. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


301 


Nothing  but  experience  can  enable  us  to  conceive 
what  must  be  the  hunger  of  a person,  by  whom 
the  discovery  of  six  acorns,  and  two  chestnuts,  was 
regarded  as  a rich  prize.  At  times,  in  order  to 
make  her  miserable,  they  announced  to  her  the  death 
of  her  husband  and  her  children.  One  of  the 
savages,  of  whom  she  enquired  concerning  her  son, 
told  her  that  his  master  had,  at  a time  which  he 
specified,  killed  and  roasted  him;  that  himself  had 
eaten  a piece  of  him,  as  big  as  his  two  fingers,  and 
that  it  was  delicious  meat.  On  various  occasions 
they  threatened  to  kill  her.  Occasionally,  but  for 
short  intervals  only,  she  was  permitted  to  see  her 
children;  and  suffered  her  own  anguish  over  again 
in  their  miseries.  She  was  also  obliged,  while  hardly 
able  to  walk,  to  carry  a heavy  burden  over  hills, 
and  through  rivers,  swamps,  and  marshes;  and  that 
in  the  most  inclement  seasons.  These  evils  were 
repeated  daily;  and,  to  crown  them  all,  she  was 
daily  saluted  with  the  most  barbarous  and  insolent 
accounts  of  the  burning  and  slaughter,  the  tortures 
and  agonies,  inflicted  by  them  upon  her  countrymen. 
It  is  to  be  remembered  that  Mrs.  Rowlandson  was 
tenderly  and  delicately  educated,  and  as  ill  fitted  to 
encounter  these  distresses  as  persons  who  have  re- 
ceived such  an  education,  now  are  in  this  and  other 
countries. 

“There  was,  however,  among  the  savages  a marked 
difference  of  character.  Some  of  them,  both  men 
and  women,  treated  her  with  kindness.  None  of 
them  exhibited  so  much  insolence  to  her  as  her 


302 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


mistress.  This  woman  felt  all  the  haughtiness  of 
rank,  as  much  as  if  she  had  been  a European  or 
Asiatic  princess;  and  spent  almost  as  much  time 
in  powdering  her  hair,  painting  her  face,  and  adorn- 
ing herself  with  ear-rings,  bracelets,  and  other 
ornaments,  a part  of  their  plunder  from  the  Eng- 
lish.5’ 

The  captivity  of  Mrs.  Rowlandson  was  terminated 
through  the  agency  of  Mr.  Hoar,  of  Concord,  Massa- 
chusetts. Under  a commission  from  the  Government 
he  redeemed  her  for  about  eighty  dollars,  which 
sum  was  contributed  by  a Mr.  Usher  and  some 
female  friends  in  Boston. 


MRS.  BOZARTH. 


To  weakness  strength  succeeds,  and  power 
From  frailty  springs. 

Park  Benjamin^ 

There’s  no  impossibility  to  him 

Who  stands  prepared  to  conquer  every  hazard. 

Mrs.  Hale. 

In  the  spring  of  1779,  while  two  or  three  neighbor- 
ing families,  had,  from  fear,  collected  at  the  house  of 
Mrs.  Bozarth,  in  Green  county,  Pennsylvania,  the 
little  company  was  one  day  attacked  by  Indians. 
The  children,  who  were  playing  without,  first  dis- 
covered the  foe,  and,  giving  the  alarm,  had  not  time 
to  get  within  doors  before  they  were  overtaken,  and 
began  to  fall  beneath  the  tomahawk.  The  first  man 
who  stepped  to  the  door  when  the  alarm  was  heard, 
was  shot,  and  fell  back;  and  before  the  door  could 
be  closed,  an  Indian  leaped  over  him  into  the  house. 
The  other  man  in  the  house  caught  the  savage  and 
threw  him  on  the  bed.  He  then  called  for  a knife, 
but  Mrs.  Bozarth,  being  unable,  to  find  one,  seized 
an  axe  and  instantly  dispatched  the  bold  assailant. 
Another  Indian  now  rushed  in,  and  shot  at  and 


304 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


wounded  the  man  before  he  was  off  the  bed.  Mrs 
Bozarth  gave  this  second  intruder  several  blows, 
when  his  cries  brought  a third  to  the  door.  Him 
she  killed  as  he  entered.  The  wounded  savage  was 
then  dragged  out;  the  door  again  closed  and  fast- 
ened ; and,  through  the  assistance  of  the  wounded 
man,  Mrs.  Bozarth  was  able  to  keep  out  the  rest 
of  the  murderous  assailants  until  relieved  by  tie 
arrival  of  friends. 


THE  HEROINE  OF  STEEL  CREEK. 


Here  and  there  some  stern,  high  patriot  stood. 

Byron. 

The  subject  of  the  following  anecdote  was  the 
mother  of  eleven  sons.  Most  of  them  were  soldiers 
and  some  were  officers  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
Her  residence  was  in  Mechlenburg  county,  near  Steel 
creek,  North  Carolina. 

When  Lord  Cornwallis  heard  of  the  defeat  of  Fer- 
guson at  King’s  Mountain,*  fearing  an  attack  of 
his  rear  at  Camden,  he  collected  his  forces  and  re 
treated  towards  Winnsboro.  While  on  this  march, 
his  whole  army  halted  for  the  night  on  the  planta- 
tion of  Robert  Wilson.  Cornwallis  and  his  staff 
took  possession  of  the  house,  and  made  an  unstinted 
levy  on  the  hospitality  of  the  good  lady.  By  asking 
such  questions  as  a British  lord  would,  under  the 
circumstances,  feel  at  liberty  to  propound,  the  Gen- 
eral learned,  in  the  course  of  the  evening,  that  the 
husband  of  Mrs.  Wilson,  and  some  of  her  sons,  were 
then  his  prisoners  in  Camden  jail.  Her  kindness 


20 


Oct  - )er  seventh,  1780. 


306 


NCJBLE  DEEDS 


and  urbanity  led  him  to  think  that  perhaps  she 
was  a friend  to  the  Crown;  and,  after  some  pre- 
liminary remarks,  intended  to  prepare  her  mind 
for  the  leading  consideration  which  he  wished  to 
enforce  upon  it,  he  at  length  addressed  her  as  fol- 
lows : 

“ Madam,  your  husband  and  your  son  are  my  pri- 
soners; the  fortune  of  war  may  soon  place  others  of 
your  sons  — perhaps  all  your  kinsmen,  in  my  power. 
Your  sons  are  young,  aspiring  and  brave.  In  a good 
cause,  fighting  for  a generous  and  powerful  king,  such 
as  George  III,  they  might  hope  for  rank,  honor  and 
wealth.  If  you  could  but  induce  your  husband  and 
sons  to  leave  the  rebels,  and  take  up  arms  for  theii 
lawful  sovereign,  I would  almost  pledge  myself  that 
thev  shall  have  rank  and  consideration  in  the  British 

c / 

army.  If  you,  madam,  will  pledge  yourself  to  in- 
duce them  to  do  so,  I will  immediately  order  their 
discharge.” 

“I  have  seven  sons,”  Mrs.  Wilson  replied,  “who  are 
now,  or  have  been,  bearing  arms  — indeed  my  seventh 
son,  Zaccheus,  who  is  only  fifteen  years  old,  I yester- 
day assisted  to  get  ready  to  go  and  join  his  brothers 
in  Sumter’s  army.  Now,  sooner  than  see  one  of  my 
family  turn  back  from  the  glorious  enterprise,  I 
would  take  these  boys  — pointing  to  three  or  four 
small  sons  — and  with  them  would  myself  enlist, 
under  Sumter’s  standard,  and  show  my  husband  and 
sons  how  to  fight,  and,  if  necessary,  to  die  for  their 
country ! ” 


OF  AMEKIOAN  WOMEN. 


307 


Colonel  Tarleton  was  one  of  the  listeners  to  this 
colloquy,  and  when  Mrs.  Wilson  had  finished  her 
reply,  he  said  to  Cornwallis:  “Ah!  General!  I 

think  you’ve  got  into  a hornet’s  nest!  Never  mind, 
when  we  get  to  Camden,  I’ll  take  good  care  that  old 
Robin  Wilson  never  comes  back  again!”  We  may 
add  that  Tarleton’s  threat  was  never  executed.  Mr. 
Wilson  and  his  worthy  companion  lived  to  old  age, 
and  died  at  Steel  creek  just  before  the  war  of  1812 


BENEVOLENCE  OF  A OOLOKED  WOMAN. 


Great  minds,  like  Heaven,  are  pleased  in  doing  gooa. 

Rowe. 


The  following  anecdote  is  obtained  from  a reliable 
source.  Did  the  spirit  which  pervaded  the  heart  of 
its  subject,  thoroughly  permeate  the  churches,  the 
great  work  of  carrying  the  Gospel  to  every  nation, 
would  soon  be  accomplished.  4 

“ In  one  of  the  eastern  counties  of  New  York  lived 
a colored  female,  who  was  born  a slave,  but  she  was 
made  free  by  the  act  gradually  abolishing  slavery 
in  that  state.  She  had  no  resources  except  such  as 
she  obtained  by  her  own  labor.  On  one  occasion  she 
carried  to  her  pastor  forty  dollars : she  told  him  that 
she  wished  him,  with  two  dollars  of  this  sum  to  pro- 
cure for  her  a seat  in  his  church  ; eighteen  dollars  she 
desired  to  be  given  to  the  American  Board ; and  the 
remaining  twenty  dollars  she  requested  him  to  divide 
among  other  benevolent  societies  according  to  his 
discretion.” 


REBECCA  EDWARDS. 


Honor  being  then  above  life,  dishonor  must 
Be  worse  than  death ; for  fate  can  strike  but  one  . 

Reproach  doth  reach  whole  families. 

Cartwright’s  Siege. 

At  the  celebration  of  our  national  Independence, 
in  1797,  the  orator  of  the  society  of  the  Cincinnati 
of  South  Carolina,  paid  the  following  tribute  to  the 
magnanimity  of  Mrs.  Rebecca  Edwards: — “ The 
Spartan  mother,  on  delivering  his  shield  to  her  son 
departing  for  the  army,  nobly  bade  him  c return  wTith 
it  or  on  it.5  The  sentiment  was  highly  patriotic,  but 
surely  not  superior  to  that  which  animated  the  bosom 
of  the  distinguished  female  of  our  own  state,  who, 
when  the  British  officer  presented  the  mandate  wrhich 
arrested  her  sons  as  objects  of  retaliation,  less  sensi- 
ble of  private  affection  than  attached  to  her  honor 
and  the  interest  of  her  country,  stifled  the  tender 
feelings  of  the  mother,  and  heroically  bade  them 
despise  the  threats  of  their  enemies,  and  steadfastly 
persist  to  support  the  glorious  cause  in  which  they 
had  engaged — that  if  the  threatened  sacrifice  should 
follow,  they  would  carry  a parent’s  blessing,  and  the 
good  opinion  of  every  virtuous  citizen  along  with 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


3 10 

them  to  the  grave:  but  if  from  the  frailty  of  human 
nature  — of  the  possibility  of  which  she  would  not 
suffer  an  idea  to  enter  her  mind — they  were  disposed 
to  temporize,  and  exchange  their  liberty  for  safety, 
they  must  forget  her  as  a mother,  nor  subject  her 
to  the  misery  of  ever  beholding  them  again.55  * 

• American  Anecdotes,  voL  2,  p.  11. 


“THE  BEAUTIFUL  REBEL.” 


Trembling  and  fear 
Are  to  her  unknown. 

Sir  Walter  Scott. 

The  maiden  name  of  Mrs.  Lewis  Morris  was  Ann 
Elliott.  She  was  born  at  Maccabee,  in  1762,  and 
died  in  New  York,  in  1848.  She  was  a firm  and 
fearless  patriot,  and  when  the  city  of  Charleston, 
Sonth  Carolina,  was  in  possession  of  the  red  coats, 
she  wore  thirteen  small  plumes  in  her  bonnet.  She 
had  so  fair  a face,' so  graceful  a form  and  so  patri- 
otic a spirit,  as  to  be  called  “ the  beautiful  rebel.55 
An  English  officer  fell  in  love  with  her  and  offered 
to  join  the  Americans,  if  she  would  favor  his  propo- 
sals. She  ordered  the  friend  who  interceded  for 
him  to  say  to  him,  “that  to  her  former  want  of 
esteem,  was  added  scorn  for  a man  capable  of  be 
traying  his  sovereign  for  selfish  interest.55 

While  she  was  engaged  to  Colonel  Morris  and 
he  was  on  a visit  one  time  at  Maccabee,  the  house 
was  suddenly  surrounded  by  Black  Dragoons.  They 
were  in  pursuit  of  the  Colonel,  and  it  was  impossi 


312 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


ble  for  him  to  escape  by  flight.  What  to  do  he 
knew  not,  but,  quick  as  thought,  she  ran  to  the 
window,  opened  it,  and,  fearlessly  putting  her  head 
out,  in  a composed  yet  firm  manner,  demanded  what 

was  wanted.  The  reply  was,  “We  want  the 

rebel.55  “Then  go,55  said  she,  “and  look  for  him 
in  the  American  army,55  adding  “How  dare  you 
disturb  a family  under  the  protection  of  both 
armies ! 55  She  was  so  cool,  self-possessed,  firm  and 
resolute  as  to  triumph  over  the  dragoons,  who  left 
without  entering  the  house 


HARRIET  B.  STEWART. 


Men  sacrifice  others  — women  themselves. 

Mrs.  S.  C.  Hall. 

Harriet  Bradford  Tiffany,  afterwards  the  wife  of 
the  Key.  Charles  S.  Stewart,  was  bom  near  Stamford, 
Connecticut,  on  the  fourth  of  June,  1798.  She  lost 
her  father  when  she  was  a small  child,  and  till 
1815,  passed  most  of  her  time  with  an  uncle,  in 
Albany.  At  this  date,  an  older  sister  married  and 
settled  in  Cooperstown,  and  consequently  Harriet 
took  up  her  abode  in  that  place.  She  became  the 
subject  of  renewing  grace  in  the  summer  of  1819  ; 
was  married  on  the  third  of  June,  1822,  and  sailed 
with  her  husband  and  nearly  thirty  other  mission- 
aries, all  bound  to  the  same  field,  on  the  nineteenth 
of  November  following.  This  little,  heroic  band,  that, 
by  the  help  of  God,  have  since  been  mainly  instru- 
mental in  making  the  Sandwich  islands  blossom  like 
a rose,  arrived  at  Honolulu,  in  Oahu,  on  the  twenty 
seventh  of  April,  1823. 

Mrs.  Stewart  left  a beautiful  town  in  a thriving 
part  of  the  Empire  State ; tempting  luxuries ; a bril- 
liant circle,  and  many  endearing  friends ; but  she 


314 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


had  embarked  in  a glorious  enterprise  foi  Christ’s 
sake,  and,  hence,  she  settled  down  in  a little  log  hut, 
in  the  town  of  Lahaiua,  three  days’  sail  from  Oahu 
contented  and  happy.  On  the  first  day  of  January 
1824,  she  wrote  as  follows  : “It  is  now  fifteen  months 
since  I bade  adieu  to  the  dear  valley  which  con 
tains  much,  very  much,  that  is  most  dear  to  me ; but 
since  the  day  I parted  from  it,  my  spirits  have  been 
uniformly  good.  Sometimes,  it  is  true,  a cloud  ot 
tender  recollections  passes  over  me,  obscuring,  for 
a moment,  my  mental  vision,  and  threatening  a day 
of  darkness ; but  it  is  seldom.  And  as  the  return- 
ing sun,  after  a summer  shower,  spreads  his  beams 
over  the  retiring  gloom  of  the  heavens,  and  stretches 
abroad  the  shining  arch  of  promise  to  cheer  the 
face  of  nature,  so,  at  such  times,  do  the  rays  of  the 
Sun  of  Righteousness  speedily  illumine  the  hopes 
of  my  soul,  and  fill  my  bosom  with  joy  and 
peace.” 

*A  few  months  after  the  above  date,  writing  to  a 
friend,  she  says:  “We  are  most  contented  and  most 
happy,  and  rejoice  that  God  has  seen  fit  to  honor 
and  bless  us  by  permitting  us  to  be  the  bearers  of 
his  light  and  truth  to  this  dark  corner  of  the  earth. 
Could  you  feel  the  same  gladness  that  often  fills 
our  bosoms,  in  witnessing  the  happy  influence  of 
the  Gospel  on  the  minds  and  hearts  of  many  of 
these  interesting  creatures,  yon  would  be  satisfied, 
yes  more  than  satisfied,  that  we  should  be  what  we 
are , and  where  we  are , poor  missionaries  in  the 
distant  isla/nds  of  the  sea” 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


315 


In  these  brief  extracts  from  her  letters,  shines,  in 
its  serenest  lustre,  the  character  of  the  Christian 
heroine : * and  it  would  be  an  easy  task  to  compile 
a volume  of  letters  written  on  the  field  of  moral 
conflict  by  American  female  missionaries,  breathing 
a spirit  equally  as  unselfish,  cheerful  and  brave. 
All  pioneer  women  in  this  enterprise  are  heroines, 
and  if  the  conflicts  and  sublime  victories  of  all 
claiming  American  citizenship,  are  not  herein  re- 
corded, it  is  because,  in  a work  of  unambitious  pre- 
tensions as  it  regards  size,  a few  characters  must 
stand  as  representatives  of  a class. 

So  pernicious  was  the  influence  of  a tropical 
climate  that,  in  the  spring  of  1825,  the  health  of 
Mrs.  Stewart  began  to  fail : and  at  the  end  of  a 
year,  she  was  forced  to  leave  the  country.  She 
sailed,  with  her  husband,  for  London ; and  after 
tarrying  three  months  in  England,  they  embarked 
for  home.  They  reached  the  valley  of  the  Otsego 
in  September,  1826.  For  three  or  four  years,  it  was 
the  prayer  of  Mrs.  Stewart  that  she  might  be  re- 
stored to  health  and  permitted  to  return  to  the  mis- 
sion station;  but  in  January,  1830,  she  was  laid  on 
a bed  of  declension  and  suffering,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing autumn,  fully  ripe,  was  gathered  into  the 
heavenly  garner. 

* For  a full  account  of  the  life  of  Mrs.  Stewart,  we  refer  the  reader 
to  an  interesting  Memoir,  by  her  husband. 


A KIND  AND  BENEVOLENT  WOMAN. 


All ! woman  — in  this  world  of  ours, 

What  gift  can  be  compared  to  thee. 

George  P.  Morris. 

Mrs.  Margaret  Morris,  of  Burlington,  New  Jersey, 
kept  a journal  during  the  Revolution,  for  the  amuse- 
ment, it  is  said,  of  a sister,  the  wife  of  Dr.  Charles 
Moore,  of  Philadelphia.  A few  copies  were  printed 
several  years  ago,  for  private  circulation,  supplying 
friends  with  a mirror  which  reflects  the  image  of 
expanded  benevolence  and  exalted  piety.  Belonging 
to  the  Society  of  Friends,  she  was  not  partial  to 

“ The  shot,  the  shout,  the  groan  of  war 

yet  her  principles  were  patriotic,  and  she  no  doubt 
rejoiced  over  all  the  victories  and  in  the  final  and 
complete  success  of  the  “ rebel55  army.  She  became 
a widow  at  an  early  age,  and  died  at  Burlington,  in 
1816,  aged  seventy-nine  years. 

A single  extract  from  her  journal  will  illustrate 
the  most  prominent  feature  of  her  character: 

“June  14th,  1777.  By  a person  from  Bordentown, 
we  hear  twelve  expresses  came  in  there  to-day  from 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN.  317 

camp.  Some  of  the  gondola-men  and  their  -wives 
being  sick,  and  no  doctor  in  towrn  to  apply  to,  they 
were  told  Mrs.  Morris  was  a skillful  woman,  and 
kept  medicines  to  give  to  the  poor ; and  notwith- 
standing their  late  attempts  to  shoot  my  poor  boy, 
they  ventured  to  come  to  me,  and  in  a very  humble 
manner  begged  me  to  come  and  do  something  for 
them.  At  first  I thought  they  designed  to  put  a 
trick  on  me,  get  me  aboard  their  gondola,  and  then 
pillage  my  house,  as  they  had  done  some  others; 
but  on  asking  where  the  sick  folks  w7ere,  I was  told 
they  were  lodged  in  the  Governor’s  house.  So  I 
went  to  see  them ; there  were  several,  both  men  and 
women,  very  ill  with  fever ; some  said,  the  camp  or 
putrid  fever.  They  were  broken  out  in  blotches ; 
and  on  close  examination,  it  appeared  to  be  the 
itch  fever.  I treated  them  according  to  art,  and 
they  all  got  w^ell.  I thought  I had  received  all  my 
pay  when  they  thankfully  acknowledged  my  kind- 
ness ; but  lo ! in  a short  time  afterwards  a very 
rough,  ill-looking  man  came  to  the  door  and  asked 
for  me.  When  I went  to  him  he  drew  me  aside, 
and  asked  if  I had  any  friends  in  Philadelphia. 
The  question  alarmed  me,  supposing  there  was 
some  mischief  meditated  against  that  poor  city; 
however,  I calmly  said — 4 1 have  an  ancient  father, 
some  sisters,  and-  other  near  friends  there.’ 

“‘Well,’  said  the  man,  ‘do  you  wish  to  hear  from 
them,  or  send  any  thing  by  way  of  refreshment  to 
them  ? If  you  do,  I will  take  charge  of  it,  and  bring 
you  bank  any  thing  you  may  send  for.’ 


318 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


UI  was  very  much  surprised,  and  thought,  to  be 
sure,  he  only  wanted  to  get  provisions  to  take  to  the 
gondolas ; but  when  he  told  me  his  wife  was  one  of 
those  I had  given  medicine  to,  and  this  was  the  only 
thing  he  could  do  to  pay  me  for  my  kindness,  my 
heart  leaped  with  joy,  and  I set  about  preparing 
something  for  my  dear,  absent  friends.  A quarter 
of  beef,  some  veal,  fowls  and  flour,  were  soon  put  up ; 
and  about  midnight  the  man  called  and  took  them 
aboard  his  boat.  He  left  them  at  Robert  Hopkins’ 
— at  the  point  — whence  my  beloved  friends  took 
them  to  town. 

“Two  nights  afterwards,  a loud  knocking  at  our 
front  door  greatly  alarmed  us,  .and  opening  the  cham- 
ber window,  we  heard  a man’s  voice,  saying,  c Come 
down  softly  and  open  the  door,  but  bring  no  light.’ 

“There  was  something  mysterious  in  such  a call; 
but  we  concluded  to  go  down  and  set  the  candle  in 
the  kitchen. 

“ When  we  got  to  the  front  door,  we  asked,  ‘ Who 
are  you  ? ’ 

“The  man  replied,  CA  friend;  open  quickly.’  So 
the  dooi  was  opened ; and  who  should  it  be  but  our 
honest  gondola-man,  with  a letter,  a bushel  of  salt,  a 
jug  of  molasses,  a bag  of  rice,  some  tea,  coffee,  and 
sugar,  and  some  cloth  for  a coat  for  my  poor  boys ; 
all  sent  by  my  kind  sisters ! 

“ How  did  our  hearts  and  eyes  overflow  with  love 
to  them,  and  thanks  to  our  Heavenly  Father  for  such 
seasonable  supplies!  May  we  never  forget  it!  Beii  g 
now  so  rich,  we  thought  it  our  duty  to  hand  out  a 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


319 


little  to  the  poor  around  us,  who  were  mourning  for 
want  of  salt;  so  we  divided  the  bushel,  and  gave  a 
pint  to  every  poor  person  who  came  for  it  — having 
bundance  left  for  our  own  use.  Indeed,  it  seemed 
to  us  as  if  our  little  store  was  increased  by  distribu- 
tion, lik3  the  bread  broken  by  our  Sav.bur  to  the 
multitude.” 


NOBLE  EXAMPLE  OF  PIONEERS. 


In  every  rank,  or  great  or  small, 

’T  is  industry  supports  us  all. 

Gat. 

Count  life  by  virtues  — these  will  last 
When  life’s  lame-footed  race  is  o’er. 

Mrs.  Hale. 

In  L.e  year  1843,  tlie  Hon.  Samnel  Wilkeson,  of 
Buffalo  — since  deceased  — communicated  to  tlie 
American  Pioneer,  a series  of  papers  entitled  “ Early 
Recollections  of  the  West.”  They  present  a graphic, 
yet  painful  picture  of  the  perils,  hardships  and  suf- 
ferings attendant  on  back-woods  life  in  the  midst 
of  the  aboriginal  foresters.  His  father’s  family  was 
one  of  twenty  that  removed  from  Carlisle  and  the 
adjacent  towns,  to  the  western  part  of  Pennsylvania, 
in  the  spring  of  1784.  He  pays  the  following 
tribute  to  the  industry,  perseverance  and  pious  efforts 
of  the  mothers  of  the  band  : 

The  labor  of  all  the  settlers  was  greatly  interrup- 
ted by  the  Indian  war.  Although  the  older  settlers 
had  some  sheep,  yet  their  increase  was  slow,  as  the 
country  abounded  in  wolves.  It  was  therefore  the 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN . 


321 


work  of  time  to  secure  a supply  of  wool.  Deerskin 
was  a substitute  for  cloth  for  men  and  boys,  but  not 
for  women  and  girls,  although  they  were  sometimes 
compelled  to  resort  to  it.  The  women  spun,  and 
generally  wove  all  the  cloth  for  their  families,  and 
when  the  wife  was  feeble,  and  had  a large  family, 
her  utmost  efforts  could  not  enable  her  to  provide 
them  with  anything  like  comfortable  clothing.  The 
wonder  is,  and  I shall  never  cease  to  wonder,  that 
they  did  not  sink  under  their  burthens.  Their 
patient  endurance  of  these  accumulated  hardships 
did  not  arise  from  a slavish  servility,  or  insensibility 
to  their  rights  and  comforts.  They  justly  apprecia- 
ted their  situation,  and  nobly  encountered  the  diffi- 
culties which  could  not  be  avoided. 

Possessing  all  the  affections  of  the  wife,  the  tender- 
ness  of  the  mother,  and  the  sympathies  of  the  woman, 
their  tears  flowed  freely  for  others’  griefs,  while 
they  bore  their  own  with  a fortitude  which  none 
but  a woman  could  exercise.  The  entire  educa- 
tion of  her  children  devolved  on  the  mother,  and 
notwithstanding  the  difficulties  to  be  encountered, 
she  did  not  allow  them  to  grow  up  wholly  without 
instruction ; but  amidst  all  her  numerous  cares  taught 
them  to  read,  and  instructed  them  in  the  principles 
of  Christianity.  To  accomplish  this,  under  the  cir- 
cumstances, was  no  easy  task.  The  exciting  influ- 
ences which  surrounded  them,  made  the  boys  restless 
under  restraint.  Familiarized  as  they  were  to  hard- 
ships from  the  cradle,  and  daily  listening  to  stories 
of  Indian  massacres  and  depredations,  and  to  the 


322 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


neroic  exploits  of  some  neighboring  pioneer,  who  had 
taken  an  Indian  scalp,  or  by  some  daring  effort  saved 
his  own,  ignorant  of  the  sports  and  toys  with  which 
children  in  other  circumstances  are  wont  to  be  amused, 
no  wonder  they  desired  to  emulate  the  soldier,  or  en- 
gage in  the  scarcely  less  exciting  adventures  of 
the  hunter.  Yet  even  many  of  these  boys  were 
subdi  ed  by  the  faithfulness  of  the  mother,  who  la- 
bored to  bring  them  up  in  the  fear  of  God. 


ANECDOTE  OF  MBS.  SLOCUMB. 


Our  country  yet  remains : 

By  that  dread  name,  we  wave  the  sword  on  high, 

And  swear  for  her  to  live  — with  her  to  die  ! 

Campbell. 


One  of  the  spiciest  specimens  of  colloquial  spar- 
ring, vis-a-vis , in  our  Revolutionary  annals,  was 
between  Colonel  Tarleton  and  the  wife  of  Lieutenant 
Slocumb,  of  Wayne  county,  North  Carolina.*  The 
Attic  wit  and  Spartan  boldness  of  the  latter,  exhibit 
original  powers  of  mind,  strength  of  will,  and  a 
degree  of  self-possession  truly  grand  and  ennobling. 
But  the  character  of  the  heroine  of  “ Pleasant 
Green,”  is  most  luminous  in  her  conduct  at  the 
battle  of  Moore’s  Creek,  which  occurred  on  the 
twenty-seventh  of  February,  1776.  She  tells  the 
story  of  her  adventures  on  that  bloody  occasion,  as 
follows : 

“The  men  all  left  on  Sunday  morning.  More 
than  eighty  went  from  this  house  with  my  husband ; 
I looked  at  them  well,  and  I could  see  that  every 
man  had  mischief  in  him.  I know  a coward  as 


Vide  Women  of  the  Revolution,  vol.  1.  pp.  306-7,  etc. 


324: 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


soon  as  I set  my  eyes  upon  him.  The  tories  move 
than  once  tried  to  frighten  me,  but  they  always 
showed  coward  at  the  bare  insinuation  that  our 
troops  were  about. 

“Well,  they  got  off  in  high  spirits,  every  man 
stepping  high  and  light.  And  I slept  soundly  and 
quietly  that  night,  and  worked  hard  all  the  next 
day;  but  I kept  thinking  where  they  had  got  to  — 
how  far;  where  and  how  many  of  the  regulars  and 
tories  they  would  meet;  and  I could  not  keep  my- 
self from  the  study.  I went  to  bed  at  the  usual 
time,  but  still  continued  to  study.  As  I lay — • 
whether  waking  or  sleeping  I know  not  — I had  a 
dream ; yet  it  was  not  all  a dream.  (She  used  the 
words,  unconsciously,  of  the  poet  who  was  not  then 
in  being.)  I saw  distinctly  a body  wrapped  in  my 
husband’s  guard -cloak  — bloody — dead ; and  others 
dead  and  wounded  on  the  ground  about  him.  I 
saw  them  plainly  and  distinctly.  I uttered  a cry, 
and  sprang  to  my  feet  on  the  floor;  and  so  strong 
was  the  impression  on  my  mind,  that  I rushed  in 
the  direction  the  vision  appeared,  and  came  up 
against  the  side  of  the  house.  The  fire  in  the  room 
gave  little  light,  and  I gazed  in  every  direction  to 
catch  another  glimpse  of  the  scene.  I raised  the 
light;  every  thing  was  still  and  quiet.  My  child 
was  sleeping,  but  my  woman  was 'awakened  by  my 
crying  out  or  jumping  on  the  floor.  If  ever  I felt 
fear  it  was  at  that  moment.  Seated  on  the  bed,  I 
reflected  a few  moments  — and  said  aloud:  CI  must 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN 


325 


go  to  him.5  I told  the  woman  I could  not  sleep, 
and  would  ride  down  the  road.  She  appeared  in 
great  alarm;  but  I merely  told  her  to  lock  the 
door  after  me,  and  look  after  the  child.  I went  to 
the  stable,  saddled  my  mare — as  fleet  and  easy  a 
nag  as  ever  traveled;  and  in  one  minute  we  were 
tearing  down  the  road  at  full  speed.  The  cool 
night  seemed  after  a mile  or  two’s  gallop  to  bring 
reflection  with  it;  and  I asked  myself  where  I was 
going,  and  for  what  purpose.  Again  and  again,  I 
was  tempted  to  turn  back ; but  I was  soon  ten 
miles  from  home,  and  my  mind  became  stronger 
every  mile  I rode.  I should  find  my  husband  dead 
or  dying  — was  as  flrmly  my  presentiment  and  con- 
viction as  any  fact  of  my  life.  When  day  broke 
I was  some  thirty  miles  from  home.  1 knew  the 
general  route  our  little  army  expected  to  take,  and 
had  followed  them  without  hesitation.  About  sunrise 
I came  upon  a group  of  women  and  children,  stand- 
ing and  sitting  by  the  road-side,  each  one  of  them 
showing  the  same  anxiety  of  mind  I felt.  Stopping 
a few  minutes  I inquired  if  the  battle  had  been 
fought.  They  knew  nothing,  but  were  assembled  on 
the  rode  side  to  catch  intelligence.  They  thought 
Caswell  had  taken  the  right  of  the  Wilmington  road, 
and  gone  towards  the  north-west  (cape  Fear).  Again 
was  I skimming  over  the  ground  through  a country 
thinly  settled,  and  very  poor  and  swampy;  but 
neither  my  own  spirits  nor  my  beautiful  nag’s  failed 
in  the  least.  We  fallowed  the  well-marked  trail  of 
the  troops. 


326 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


44  The  sun  must  have  been  well  up,  say  eight  or 
nine  o’clock,  when  I heard  a sound  like  thunder, 
which  I knew  must  be  cannon.  It  was  the  first 
time  I ever  heard  a cannon.  I stopped  still ; when 
presently  the  cannon  thundered  again.  The  battle 
was  then  fighting.  What  a fool ! my  husband  could 
not  be  dead  last  night,  and  the  battle  only  fighting 
now ! Still,  as  I am  so  near,  I will  go  on  and  see 
how  they  come  out.  So  away  we  went  again,  faster 
than  ever ; and  I soon  found,  by  the  noise  of  the 
guns,  that  I was  near  the  fight.  Again  I stopped. 
I could  hear  muskets,  I could  hear  rifles,  and  I 
could  hear  shouting.  I spoke  to  my  mare  and  dashed 
on  in  the  direction  of  the  firing  and  the  shouts,  now 
louder  than  ever.  The  blind  path  I had  been  follow- 
ing brought  me  into  the  Wilmington  load  leading 
to  Moore’s  creek  bridge,  a few  hundred  yards  below 
the  bridge.  A few  yards  from  the  road,  under  a 
cluster  of  trees  were  lying  perhaps  twenty  men. 
They  were  the  wounded.  I knew  the  spot;  the 
very  trees ; and  the  position  of  the  men  I knew 
as  if  I had  seen  it  a thousand  times.  I had  seen 
it  all  night ! I saw  all  at  once ; but  in  an  instant 
my  whole  soul  was  centered  in  one  spot;  for  there, 
wrapped  in  his  bloody  guard-cloak,  was  my  hus- 
band’s body ! How  I passed  the  few  yards  from 
my  saddle  to  the  place  I never  knew.  I remem- 
ber uncovering  his  head  and  seeing  a face  clothed 
with  gore  from  a dreadful  wound  across  the  temple. 
I put  my  hand  on  the  bloody  face;  ?twas  warm; 
and  an  unlvriown  voice  begged  for  water.  A small 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


327 


camp-kettle  was  lying  near,  and  a stream  of  water 
was  close  by.  I brought  it ; poured  some  in  his 
mouth  ; washed  his  face;  and  behold  — it  was  Frank 
Cogdell.  He  soon  revived  and  could  speak.  I was 
washing  the  wound  in  his  head.  Said  he  ‘It  is 
not  that ; it  is  that  hole  in  my  leg  that  is  killing 
me.5  A puddle  of  blood  was  standing  on  the  ground 
about  his  feet.  I took  his  knife,  cut  away  his  trow- 
sers  and  stockings,  and  found  the  blood  came  from 
a shot  hole  through  and  through  the  fleshy  part  of 
the  leg.  I looked  about  and  could  see  nothing  that 
looked  as  if  it  would  do  for  dressing  wounds  but 
some  heart-leaves.  I gathered  a handful  and  bound 
fiiem  tight  to  the  holes ; and  the  bleeding  stopped. 
I then  went  to  the  others;  and  — Doctor!  I dressed 
the  wounds  of  many  a brave  fellow  who  did  good 
fighting  long  after  that  day ! I had  not  inquired  for 
my  husband;  but  while  I was  busy  Caswell  came 
up.  He  appeared  very  much  surprised  to  see  me  ; 
and  was  with  his  hat  in  hand  about  to  pay  some 
compliment:  but  I interrupted  him  by  asking  — 
‘ Where  is  my  husband  ? 5 

“ 6 Where  he  ought  to  be,  madam ; in  pursuit  of 
the  enemy.  But  pray,5  said  he,  ‘ how  came  you  here?5 

“ ‘ Oh,  I thought,5  replied  I,  ‘you  would  need 
nurses  as  well  as  soldiers.  See!  I have  already 
dressed  many  of  these  good  fellows ; and  here  is 
one5 — going  to  Frank  and  lifting  him  up  with  my 
arm  under  his  head  so  that  he  could  drink  some 
more  water — ‘would  have  died  before  any  of  you 
men  could  have  helped  him.5 


328 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


“‘I  believe  you,5  said  Frank.  Just  then  I looked 
up,  an/1  my  husband,  as  bloody  as  a butcher,  and  as 
muddy  as  a ditcher,*  stood  before  me. 

44  4 Why,  Mary  ! 5 he  exclaimed,  4 What  are  you 
doing  there?  Hugging  Frank  Cogdell,  the  greatest 
reprobate  in  the  army?5 

44  4 1 dont  care,5  I cried.  4 Frank  is  a brave  fellow, 
a good  soldier,  and  a true  friend  to  Congress.5 

44  4 True,  true  ! every  word  of  it ! 5 said  Caswell. 
4 You  are  right,  madam,5  with  the  lowest  possible 
bow. 

44 1 would  not  tell  my  husband  what  brought  me 
there.  I was  so  happy  ; and  so  were  all ! It  was 
a glorious  victory  ; I came  just  at  the  height  of  the 
enjoyment.  I knew  my  husband  was  surprised,  but 
I could  see  he  was  not  displeased  with  me.  It  was 
night  again  before  our  excitement  had  at  all  subsi- 
ded. Many  prisoners  were  brought  in,  and  among 
them  some  very  obnoxious  ; but  the  worst  of  the 
tories  were  not  taken  prisoners.  They  were,  for  the 
most  part,  left  in  the  woods  and  swamps  wFerever 
they  were  overtaken.  I begged  for  some  of  the  poor 
prisoners,  and  Caswell  readily  told  me  none  should 
be  hurt  but  such  as  had  been  guilty  of  murder  and 
house-burning.  In  the  middle  of  the  night  I again 
mounted'  my  mare  and  started  for  home.  Caswell 
and  my  husband  wanted  me  to  stay  till  next  morn- 
ing, and  they  would  send  a party  with  me ; but  no  ! I 

* It  was  his  company  that  forded  the  creek,  and,  penetrating  tiie 
swamp , made  the  furious  charge  on  the  British  left  and  rear  which 
decided  the  fate  of  the  day. — [Mrs.  Ellet 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


wanted  to  see  my  child,  and  I told  them  they  could 
send  no  party  who  could  keep  up  with  me.  What 
a happy  ride  I had  back!  and  with  what  joy  did 
I embrace  my  child  as  he  ran  to  meet  me ! 55  * 


* Mrs.  Slocumb  was  a dignified  and  generous  matron,  a kind  ana 
libera*  neighbor,  and  a Christian  of  indomitable  fortitude  and 
inexhaustible  patience.  After  four  or  five  years’  extreme  bodily  suf- 
fering, resulting  from  a complication  of  diseases,  she  died,  on  the  sixth 
of  March,  1836,  aged  seventy-six  years. 


CAPTAIN  RICHARDSON  SAVED  BY 
HIS  WIFE. 


Love,  lend  me  wings  to  make  this  purp< 
As  thou  hast  lent  me  wit  to  plot  this  dr 


Dose  swift, 

[rift. 

ShARSPEaRE. 


During  the  struggle  for  Independence,  Captain 
Richardson, 'of  Sumter  district,  South  Carolina,  was 
obliged  to  conceal  himself  for  a while  in  the  thickets 
of  the  Santee  swamp.  One  day  he  ventured  to  visit 
his  family — a perilous  movement,  for  the  British  had 
offered  rewards  for  his  apprehension,  and  patrolling 
parties  were  almost  constantly  in  search  of  him. — 
Before  his  visit  was  ended,  a small  band  of  soldiers 
presented  themselves  in  front  of  the  house.  Just  as 
they  were  entering,  with  a great  deal  of  composure 
and  presence  of  mind,  Mrs.  Richardson  appeared  at 
the  door,  and  found  so  much  to  do  there  at  the 
moment,  as  to  find  it  inconvenient  to  make  room  for 
the  uninvited  gues’ts  to  enter.  She  was  so  calm,  and 
appeared  so  unconcerned,  that  they  did  not  mistrust 
the  canse  of  her  wonderful  diligence,  till  her  husband 
had  rushed  out  of  the  back  door  and  safely  reached 
the  neighboring  swamp. 


f.  miKING  INSTANCE  OF  PATIENCE. 


Patience  and  resignation  are  the  pillars 
Of  human  peace  on  earth. 

Young. 

The  panegyric  of  Decker  on  patience  is  beautiful: 

Patience,  my  lord  ! why  ’tis  the  soul  of  peace  : 

Of  all  the  virtues  ’tis  the  nearest  kin  to  heaven  ; 

It  makes  men  look  like  gods. 

Not  every  Christian  sufferer  wears  this  garment 
in  its  celestial  whiteness,  as  did  the  God-man,  whom 
the  same  writer  calls 

“the  best  of  men 
Th  t e’er  wore  earth  about  him.” 

One  of  the  most  patient  beings  in  modern  times 
was  Miss  Sarah  Parbeck,  of  Salem,  Massachusetts. 
A lady  who  visited  her  in  1845,  gives  the  following 
account  of  the  interview : 

The  door  was  opened  by  a very  old  lady,  wrinkled 
and  bowed  down  with  age,  who  invited  us  to  enter. 
The  room  was  so  dark,  that,  before  my  eyes  were 
accommodated  to  the  change,  I could  only  see  a 
figure  dressed  in  white,  sitting  upon  the  bed  and 
r<  eking  to  and  fro.  This  motion  was  attended  bv  a 


332 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


sound  like  the  click  of  wooden  machinery,  which 
arose,  as  I afterwards  discovered,  from  the  bones,  as 
they  worked  in  their  loosened  sockets.  As  we  ap- 
proached, she  extended  her  hand  to  my  companion, 
and  said,  in  a painful  but  affectionate  voice,  “ Eliza, 
I am  very  glad  to  see  thee  ; 55  and  then  asked  my 
name  and  place  of  residence.  She  had  just  given 
me  her  hand,  when  a spasm  seized  her,  and  it  was 
twitched  suddenly  from  my  grasp.  It  flew  some  four 
or  five  times  with  the  greatest  violence  against  her 
face,  and  then,  with  a sound,  which  I can  only  com- 
pare to  that  made  by  a child  who  has  been  sobbing 
a long  time,  in  catching  its  breath,  she  threw  up  both 
her  arms,  and  with  a deep  guttural  groan  was  flung 
back  upon  her  pillow,  with  a force  inconceivable 
to  one  who  has  not  witnessed  it.  The  instant  she 
touched  the  bed,  she  uttered  that  piercing  shriek 
again,  and  sprung  back  to  her  former  position, 
rocking  to  and  fro,  with  those  quick,  heart-rending 
groans  which  I had  heard  while  standing  at  the  door. 
It  was  several  minutes  before  she  could  speak,  and 
then  there  was  none  to  answer  her.  Both  my  com- 
panion and  myself  were  choked  with  tears.  Her 
poor  mother  went  to  the  other  side  of  the  bed,  and 
smoothed  the  coverlid,  and  re-arranged  the  pillows, 
looking  sadly  upon  her  poor  child,  writhing  in  torture 
which  she  could  not  alleviate.  I became  faint,  and 
trembled  with  sudden  weakness:  a cold  perspiration 
stood  upon  my  face.  The  objects  in  the  room  began 
to  swim  about  me,  and  I was  obliged  to  take  hold 
of  the  bedside  for  support.  I have  been  in  jui 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


333 


largest  hospitals,  and  have  spent  hours  in  going  from 
room  to  room  with  the  attending  physician.  I have 
witnessed  there  almost  e^ery  form  of  human  suffer- 
ing, but  I had  never  beheld  any  thing  to  be  com- 
pared to  that  now  before  me.  She  afterwards  told 
me,  as  if  in  apology  for  her  screams,  that  when  she 
was  hurled  back  upon  her  pillow,  both  shoulders  were 
dislocated,  and  as  they  sprung  back  into  their  sockets, 
the  pain  was  far  beyond  endurance,  and  extorted 
from  her  these  shrieks. 

Her  sentences  were  broken,  uttered  with  much  diffi- 
culty, and  frequently  interrupted  by  the  terrible 
spasm  I have  described  above.  Yet  this  was  her 
“ quiet55  state;  this  the  time  wdien  she  suffered  least . 
Day  after  day,  night  after  night,  fourteen  weary  years 
have  dragged  themselves  along,  whilst  her  poor  body 
has  been  thus  racked.  No  relief;  no  hope  of  relief, 
except  tli at  which  death  shall  give.  When  I asked 
her  if  her  affliction  did  not  at  times  seem  greater 
than  she  could  bear,  “ O ! never,”  she  replied.  “ I 
cannot  thank  God  enough  for  having  laid  his  heavy 
hand  upon  me.  I was  a thoughtless  sinner,  and  had 
he  not,  in  his  mercy,  afflicted  me,  I should  probably 
have  lost  my  immortal  soul.  I see  only  his  kind- 
ness and  love.  The  sweet  communion  I have  with 
my  Saviour  more  than  compensates  me  for  all  I 
suffer.  I am  permitted  to  feel,  in  a measure,  in  my 
poor  body,  what  he  suffered  to  save  me,  and  my  soul 
can  never  grow  weary  in  his  praise.”  This  last  sen- 
tence, I must  say,  gave  me  an  argument  which  put 
doubts  of  the  verity  and  power  of  religion  to  flight, 


334 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


more  effectually  than  all  the  evidences  which  the 
wisdom  of  man  has  arrayed  against  the  skeptic; 
and  I could  not  but  exclaim,  “ If  this  be  delusion 
let  me  be  deluded  ! ” 

She  spoke  in  the  most  tender  terms  of  her  Sa- 
viour’s love.  Her  conversation  was  in  heaven, -from 
whence  also  she  looked  for  her  Saviour,  knowing 
that  he  should  change  her  body  of  humiliation,  and 
fashion  it  like  unto  his  glorious  body.  I shall  never 
forget  the  tones  and  language  in  which  she  entreated 
my  sobbing  companion  to  give  that  Saviour  her  heart. 
As  she  recovered  from  a spasm,  I said  to  her,  “ do 
you  not  often  desire  to  depart,  and  be  wTith  the 
Saviour  you  love  so  fervently  ? ” She  had  hardly  re- 
covered her  exhausted  breath,  but  replied  with  great 
decision,  “By  the  grace  of  God,  I have  newer  had 
that  wish . Though  death  will  be  a welcome  gift 
when  my  Father  sees  fit  to  bestow  it  upon  me,  yet, 
thanks  to  his  supporting  grace,  I can  wait  his  time 
without  impatience.  He  sees  that  there  is  much 
dross  to  refine  away,  and  why  should  I wish  against 
his  will  ? ” 

I remained  by  her  side  for  more  than  an  hour ; 
such,  however,  were  the  attractions  of  her  discourse, 
that  I was  unconscious  of  the  time.  I know  not 
when  I have  been  so  drawn  towards  a fellow  Christ- 
ian, and  never  had  I been  led  to  such  delightful 
contemplations  of  our  Saviour’s  character — his  faith 
fulness  and  love.  I remarked  to  her,  as  I turned 
to  go  away,  “ God  has  made  you  a powerful  preacher, 
here  upon  your  bed  of  pain.”  u O,”  she  replied. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN.  335 

“ if  he  will  make  me  the  instrument  of  saving  but 
a single  soul,  I am  willing  to  live  and  suffer  here 
until  my  hair  is  gray  with  age.”  I noticed  some 
bottles  standing  upon  a small  table,  and  asked  her 
if  she  found  any  relief  from  opiates.  “ Through  God’s 
kindness,”  she  answered,  “ I probably  owe  the  preser- 
vation of  my  life  thus  far  to  an  extract  made  from 
blackdrop.”  “Does  it  enable  you  to  sieep i"  uO  no,” 
she  replied,  “ I have  not  known  sleep  for  a very  long 
time.”  “What!”  I cried,  “ do  you  never  rest?”  A 
severe  spasm  here  seized  her,  and  it  was  some  time 
before  she  could  answer  me ; she  had  been  attacked  in 
this  way  some  twelve  or  fifteen  times  whilst  conver- 
sing with  us,  and  frequently  in  the  midst  of  a reply. 
When  she  recovered,  she  said  the  physicians  thought 
she  obtained  rest  in  her  “long  spasm,”  which  lasted 
for  more  than  an  hour.  “During  that  time,”  she 
continued,  “ I am  dead  to  every  thing  but  a sense 
of  the  most  extreme  anguish.  I see  and  hear  nothing; 
I only  feel  as  though  I was  being  crushed  in  pieces 
by  some  immense  weight.”  This  was  her  rest ! the 
rack  ! Yet,  through  all  this  suffering,  the  smiles  of 
God  penetrated  to  her  heart.  She  sees  him  just5 
and  acknowledges  his  love 


SUSANNAH  ELLIOTT. 


- — — The  painted  folds  thus  fly, 

And  lift  their  emblems,  printed  high 
On  morning  mist  and  sunset  sky. 

Holmes. 

She  showed  that  her  soft  sex  contains  strong  mind.. 

Sir  W.  Davenant. 

Susannah  Smith,  afterwards  the  wife  of  Colonel 
Barnard  Elliott,  was  a native  of  South  Carolina. 
Ramsay,  in  his  history  of  that  state,  and  other 
authors,  give,  a glowing  account  of  her  presentation 
of  a pair  of  colors  to  the  second  South  Carolina 
regiment  of  infantry,  commanded  by  Col.  Moultrie. 
The  ceremony  took  place  on  the  twenty-eighth  of 
June,  ’76,  two  or  three  days  after  the  attack  on  Fort 
Moultrie,  Sullivan’s  island.  The  colors,  which  were 
embroidered  by  her  own  hand,  were  presented  in 
these  words  : “ Your  gallant  behavior  in  defence  of 
liberty  and  your  country,  entitles  you  to  the  highest 
honors : accej)t  these  two  standards  as  a reward 
justly  due  to  your  regiment ; and  I make  not  the  least 
doubt,  under  Heaven’s  protection,  you  will  stand  by 
them  as  long  as  they  can  wave  in  the  air  of  liberty.’ 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


337 


Mrs.  Elliott  had  a plantation  called  “ The  Hut,’* 
and  while  there  she  once  had  three  American 
gentlemen  as  guests.  These  she  was  obliged  to  hurry 
into  a closet  one  day,  on  the  sudden  approach  of  the 
enemy ; and,  opening  a secret  door,  she  showed 
them  a narrow  apartment  back  of  the  chimney, 
which  she  had  contrived  expressly  for  a hiding  place. 
Two  of  the  guests  entered,  and  were  saved,  while 
the  third,  attempting  to  flee  on  horse-back,  was  over- 
taken and  slain. 

After  the  British  had  thoroughly,  though  ineffec- 
tually, searched  the  house,  and  failed,  by  many 
threats,  to  persuade  the  mistress  to  disclose  the  hi- 
ding place  of  the  others,  they  demanded  her  silver. 
Pointing  to  some  mounds  of  earth  near  by,  as  they 
made  the  demand,  they  asked  if  the  plate  was  not 
buried  there.*  She  told  them,  in  reply,  that  those 
mounds  were  the  graves  of  British  soldiers  who  had 
died  under  her  roof.  The  officers  did  not  believe  her, 
and  made  two  of  the  soldiers  dig  till  they  came  to  one 
of  the  coffins,  which  was  opened  and  which  verified 
her  assertion.  The  enemy  then  departed,  when  the  two 
guests  came  forth,  filled  with  gratitude  to  their  kind 
and  ingenious  hostess  for  the  free  use  of  this  singular 
apartment. 

* The  silver  was  buried  in  a trunk,  and  remained  in  a marshy  bed  till 
the  close  of  the  war.  When  disinterred,  it  had  turned  black. 

22 


ANECDOTES  OF  ANNA.  ELLIOTT. 


The  spark  of  noble  courage  now  awake, 

And  strive  your  excellent  self  to  excel.” 

The  wife  of  Charles  Elliott,  of  Charleston,  South 
Carolina,  was  one  of  those  dames  of  Seventy-six 
who  “ appeared  to  concentrate  every  thought  and 
every  hour  of  existence  to  the  interests  of  America.55 
She  cheered  the  prisoner,  befriended  the  unjustly 
persecuted,  comforted  the  sick,  fed  the  hungry,  and 
was  humane  alike  to  enemies  and  friends.  Major 
Garden  has  paid  her  the  following  compliment:  “I 
do  not  know  an  officer  who  did  not  owre  to  her  some 
essential  increase  of  comfort.55 

A British  officer,  whose  cruel  and  persecuting 
disposition  was  well  known  to  Mrs.  Elliott,  was 
walking  with  her  in  a flower  garden  one  day,  when, 
pointing  to  the  chamomile  he  asked,  “ What  is 
this,  madam?55  She  at  once  replied*  “The  rebel 
flower.55  “And  why,55  asked  he,  “is  it  called  the 
rebel  flower  ? 55  “ Because,55  answered  she,  “ it  always 

flourishes  most  when  trampled  upon.55 

At  another  time,  while  an  officer  of  the  royal 
army  wTas  in  her  house  at  Charleston,  a French 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


339 


officer,  belonging  to  Pulaski’s  legion,  passed;  and 
pointing  to  him,  lie  vociferated,  u There,  Mrs.  Elliott, 
is  one  of  your  illustrious  allies.  What  a pity  the 
hero  is  minus  his  swordP  The  spirit  of  the  woman 
was  roused,  and  she  replied,  “ Had  two  thousand 
such  men  been  here  to  aid  in  the  defence  of  our 
city,  I should  not  at  this  moment,  sir,  have  been 
subjected  to  the  insolence  of  your  observation.” 
When  her  father,  the  brave  and  zealous  patriot, 
Thomas  Ferguson,  was  put  on  board  a transport 
ship  at  Charleston,  preparatory  to  exile,  she  hastened 
from  the  country,  where  she  chanced  to  be,  and 
begged  permission  to  receive  his  parting  blessing. 
Her  request  being  granted,  she  went  on  board  the 
ship.  Just  as  she  entered  the  cabin,  she  was  over- 
come with  grief,  and  fainted.  When  recovered,  she 
addressed  her  father  as  follows  : “ Let  not  oppression 
shake  your  fortitude,  nor  the  hope  of  gentler  treat- 
ment cause  you  for  a moment  to  swerve  from  strict 
duty.  Better  times  are  in  store  for  us : the  bravery 
of  the  Americans,  and  the  friendly  aid  of  France, 
will  achieve  the  deliverance  of  our  country  from 
oppression.  We  shall  meet  again,  my  father,  and 
meet  with  joy.”  * 


* A similar  spirit  was  exhibited  by  the  wife  of  Isaac  Holmes,  one 
of  the  number  who  were  sent  into  exile  at  St.  Augustine.  Just  as  the 
guard  were  separating  him  from  his  family,  she  said  to  him,  “ Waver 
not  in  your  principles,  but  be  true  to  your  country.  Have  no  fears  for 
your  family ; God  is  good,  and  will  provide  for  them.,, 


PATRIOTIC  STRATAGEM. 


What  bosom  beats  not  in  its  country’s  cause  ? 

Pops. 

While  the  Legislature  of  Yirginia  was  in  session 
at  Charlottesville,  Colonel  Tarleton,  with  his  famous 
band  of  cavairy,  made  a secret  march  to  that  place, 
in  order  to  capture  the  Governor  and  some  public 
stores  there  collected.  Several  of  the  Assembly-men 
were  at  the  house  of  Colonel  John  Walker,  a dozen 
miles  distant,  and  directly  on  Tarleton’s  route.  Colo- 
nel Walker  was  absent  on  duty  in  the  lower  part 
rf  the  state.  Tarleton  came  suddenly  up  to  the 
door,  and  succeeded  in  making  one  or  two  prisoners, 
the  other  members  fleeing  to  town.  He  then  ordered 
breakfast  for  himself  and  his  whole  corps,  which 
the  shrewd  lady  of  the  house  prepared  in  the 
slowest  manner  possible.  This  she  did  in  order  that 
the  members  who  had  fled  to  the  capital,  might 
attend  to  the  removal  or  concealment  of  the  stores, 
in  the  preservation  of  which  she  was  deeply  interested. 
Her  stratagem  succeeded;  and,  after  tarrying  a day 
or  two  at  Charlottesville,  Tarleton  went  empty  away. 


INFLUENCE  OF  A FAITHFUL  TEACHER. 


Spread  out  earth’s  holiest  records  here. 

Sprague. 

“About  the  first  of  September,  1833,  a deep  and 
solemn  interest  upon  the  subject  of  religion,  began 
to  be  visible  in  the  Presbyterian  church  and  con- 
gregation of  Washingtonville,  New  York,  and  par-  * 
ticularly  in  the  Sabbath  school.  One  teacher,  feeling 
deeply  the  responsibility  resting  upon  her,  and  the 
worth  of  immortal  souls,  before  the  school  was  dis- 
missed on  the  Lord’s  day,  affectionately  requested 
her  class,  consisting  of  little  girls  about  twelve  or 
thirteen  years  of  age,  to  remain  after  the  rest  of 
the  school  had  retired.  She  then  began,  with  an 
aching  heart  and  with  flowing  tears,  to  reason  and 
plead  with  them  upon  the  subject  of  personal  religion. 
They  were  deeply  affected,  and  ‘wept  bitterly’  in 
view  of  their  lost  condition.  They  then  all  knelt 
together  before  the  Lord,  and  the  teacher  prayed 
for  their  salvation ; and  immediately  the  scholar  next 
to  her  commenced  praying  for  herself,  and  then  the 
next,  and  so’  on,  until  the  whole  class,  with  ardent 
supplications,  begged  for  the  forgiveness  of  their  sins, 


342 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


and  the  salvation  of  their  souls.  It  would  take 
long  to  tell  the  history  of  this  class,  ani  relate  par- 
ticular instances  of  conversions,  and  the  happy 
changes  which  took  place  in  the  families  to  which 
they  belonged,  and  show  the  family  altars  which 
were  established.  These  scholars,  with  their  teacher 
and  their  fathers  and  mothers,  brothers  and  sisters, 
were  ere  long  seen  commemorating  a Saviour’s  dying 
love  together.  The  revival  extended  itself  to  other 
towns,  and  the  great  day  can  alone  unfold  the 
astonishing  results.” 


THE  WIFE  OF  THOMAS  HEYWARD 


What  I will,  I will,  and  there’s  an  end. 

Shakspeare. 

Immediately  after  the  victory  of  the  British  at  Guil- 
ford, order  was  given  for  the  illumination  of  Charles- 
ton, South  Carolina.  This  order,  Major  Garden 
informs  us,  * the  wife  of  Thomas  Heyward  of  that 
city  refused  to  obey ; and  when  an  officer  asked 
her  the  reason  of  her  disobedience,  she  replied,  “Is 
it  possible  for  me,  sir,  to  feel  a spark  of  joy?  Can 
I celebrate  the  victory  of  your  army  while  my 
husband  remains  a prisoner  at  St.  Augustine  ? ” En- 
raged at  her  obstinacy,  he  told  her  she  should 
illuminate.  “Hot  a single  light  shall  be  placed,  with 
my  consent,  on  any  occasion,  in  any  window  in  the 
house,”  was  her  fearless  reply.  He  then  threatened 
to  destroy  her  house  before  midnight.  “You  have 
power  to  destroy,  sir,”  she  said,  “ and  seem  well 
disposed  to  use  it,  but  over  my  opinions  you  possess 
no  control.  I disregard  your  menaces,  and  resolutely 
declare,  I will  not  illuminate  ! ” As  good  as  her 
word,  she  did  not,  nor  was  her  house  destroyed. 


Revolutionary  Anecdotes,  First  Series 


344 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


Orders  were  given,  at  another  time,  for  an  illumi- 
nation on  the  anniversary  of  the  battle  and  surrender 
of  Charleston,*  and  Mrs.  Heyward  again  refused  to 
obey.  The  mob  was  so  indignant  as  to  pelt  her 
house  with  brickbats ; and  while  engaged  in  the  mean 
act,  a feeble  and  emaciated  sister  of  Mrs.  Heyward 
— Mrs.  George  A.  Hall  — expired!  When  the  town 
major  heard  of  this  painful  circumstance,  he  tried  to 
apologize  to  Mrs.  Heyward,  expressing  regret  for  the 
indignities  and  damages,  and  offering  to  repair  the 
building.  She  received  his  personal  courtesies,  but 
refused  his  proffered  aid  in  making  repairs,  hinting, 
at  the  same  time,  that  it  was  hardly  possible  fot  the 
authorities,  in  that  way,  to  remedy  insults  the  offering 
of  which  their  baseness  had  probably  prompted  and 
and  which  they  could  and  should  have  prevented. 


May  twelfth,  1781. 


NOBLE  DECISION. 


We  are  born  to  do  benefits. 

Shakspeare. 

When  the  news  was  received  in  Illinois,  a few 
years  ago,  that,  owing  to  a deficiency  of  funds,  the 
Ceylon  missionaries  had  been  obliged  to  dismiss 
thousands  of  pupils  from  their  schools,  and  that 
twenty-five  dollars  would  revive  any  one  of  them, 
a minister  of  that  state  laid  the  subject  before  his 
small  and  poor  church,  and  between  pastor  and  peo- 
ple twenty-five  dollars  were  promptly  raised.  Going 
home  and  communicating  the  intelligence  to  his  wife, 
the  minister  learned  that  she  had  been  weighing  the 
subject,  and  was  anxious,  in  some  way,  to  raise  enough 
herself  alone  to  resuscitate  a school.  Her  husband 
told  her  she  could  do  it  by  dispensing  with  a tomb 
stone  which  had  been  ordered  from  New  York  for  a 
child  lately  deceased,  and  which  would  cost  twenty- 
five  dollars.  She  promptly  consented  to  have  the  or- 
der countermanded,  saying  that  “living  children  de- 
manded her  money  more  than  the  one  that  was 
dead.55  By  suffering  the  love  of  Christ  to  triumph 
over  maternal  feeling,  she  re-opened  a mission  school, 
and  the  day  of  judgment  will  reveal  the  great  amount 
of  good  thereby  accomplished. 


A TENNESSEE  HEROINE. 


It  is  held 

That  valor  is  the  chiefest  virtue ; 

Most  dignifies  the  haver : if  it  be, 

The  man  I speak  of  cannot  in  the  world. 
Be  singly  counterpoised. 


Shakspeare. 


Milton  A.  Haynes,  Esq.,  of  Tennessee,  furnished 
for  Mrs.  Ellet’s  Women  of  the  Revolution  a lengthy 
and  very  interesting  sketch  of  Sarah  Buchanan,  of 
East  Tennessee.  The  following  anecdotes,  extracted 
therefrom,  exhibit  the  heroism  of  her  character : 

On  one  occasion,  Sarah  and  a kinswoman  named 
Susan  Everett  were  returning  home  from  a visit  a 
mile  or  two  distant,  careless  of  danger,  or  not  think- 
ing of  its  presence.  It  was  late  in  the  evening, 
and  they  were  riding  along  a path  through  the  open 
woods,  Miss  Everett  in  advance.  Suddenly  she 
stopped  her  horse,  exclaiming,  “ Look,  Sally,  yonder 
are  the  red  skins ! ” Not  more  than  a hundred 
yards  ahead  was  a party  of  Indians  armed  with 
rifles,  directly  in  their  path.  There  was  no  time  for 
counsel,  and  retreat  was  impossible,  as  the  Indians 
might  easily  intercept  them  before  they  could  gain 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


347 


a fort  in  their  rear.  To  reach  their  own  block-house, 
four  or  five  hundred  yards  distant,  was  their  only 
hope  of  safety.  Quick  as  thought,  Sarah  whispered 
to  her  companion  to  follow  and  do  as  she  did,  and 
then  instantly  assuming  the  position  of  a man  on 
horseback,  in  which  she  was  imitated  by  her  rela- 
tive, she  urged  her  horse  into  a headlong  gallop. 
Waving  their  bonnets  in  the  air,  and  yelling  like 
madmen,  they  came  furiously  down  upon  the  sava- 
ges, who  had  not  seen  them,  crying  out  as  they 

came  — “ Clear  the  track,  you red  skins  ! ” The 

part  was  so  well  acted,  that  the  Indians  took  them 
for  the  hea/I  of  a body  of  troopers,  who  were 
making  a deadly  charge  upon  them,  and  dodging 
out  of  the  path,  fled  for  very  life  — and  so  did  Sally 
and  Susan ! Before  the  savages  had  recovered  from 
their  fright,  the  two  girls  were  safe  within  the  gates 
of  the  fort,  trembling  like  frightened  fawns  at  the 
narrow  escape  which  they  had  made. 

On  another  occasion,  when  her  husband  and  all 
the  men  of  the  fort  were  absent,  two  celebrated 
horse-thieves,  who  had  taken  refuge  with  the  Indi- 
ans, came  and  demanded  of  Mrs.  Buchanan  two 
of  the  Major’s  fine  horses.  Knowing  their  lawless 
character,  she  pretended  acquiescence,  and  went  with 
them  to  the  stable,  but  on  arriving  at  the  door  she 
suddenly  drew  a large  hunting  knife  from  under 
her  apron,  and  assuming  an  attitude  of  defiance, 
declared  that  if  either  of  them  dared  to  enter  the 
stable,  she  would  instantly  cut  him  down.  Struck 
by  her  intrepid  bearing,  they  fell  back,  and  although 


348 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


they  tried  to  overcome  her  resoluticn  by  threats 
and  bravado,  she  maintained  her  ground,  and  the 
marauders  were  compelled  to  retire  without  the 
horses. 

On  Sunday  night,*  about  the  hour  of  midnight, 
while  the  moon  was  shining  brilliantly,  the  Indian 
army  under  Watts  and  the  Shawnee,  advancing  in  si- 
lence, surrounded  Buchanan’s  station.  In  order  to 
effect  an  entrance  into  the  fort  by  a coup  de  main , 
they  sent  runners  to  frighten  and  drive  in  the  horses 
and  cattle.  This  was  done,  and  the  animals  came 
dashing  furiously  towards  the  fort;  but  the  garrison, 
wrapped  in  slumber,  heeded  them  not.  The  watch- 
man, John  McCrory,  at  this  instant  discovering  the 
savages  advancing  within  fifty  yards  of  the  gates, 
fired  upon  them.  In  an  instant  the  mingled  yells 
of  the  savage  columns,  the  crack  of  their  rifles,  and 
the  clatter  of  their  hatchets,  as  they  attempted  to 
cut  down  the  gate,  told  the  little  squad  of  nineteen 
men  and  seven  women  that  the  fearful  wrar-cloud, 
which  had  been  rising  so  long,  was  about  to  burst 
upon  their  devoted  heads ! 

Aroused  suddenly  from  deep  slumber  by  the  ter- 
rible war-whoop,  every  man  and  woman  felt  the 
horror  of  their  situation.  The  first  impulse  with 
some  was  to  surrender,  and  it  is  related  of  one 
woman  that  she  instantly  gathered  her  five  children 
and  attempted  to  go  with  them  to  the  gate  to  yield 


* In  the  autumn  of  1792,  while  the  war  with  the  Creeks  and  Ghero- 
kees  was  raging  in  the  Cumberland  valley. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


349 


themselves  to  the  Indians.  Mrs.  Buchanan  seized 
her  by  the  shoulder,  and  asked  her  where  she  was 
going. 

“To  surrender  myself  and  children  to  the  Indi- 
ans— if  I don’t  they’ll  kill  us,  any  how,”  exclaimed 
the  terrified  woman.  “ Come  back,”  said  Mrs.  Bu- 
chanan, “ and  let  us  all  fight  and  die  together.” 
An  old  man,  who  waked  up  as  it  were  in  a dream, 
seemed  paralyzed,  and  exclaimed,  in  a plaintive 
voice — “ Oh,  we  shall  all  be  murdered!” 

“Get  up  then  and  go  to  fighting!”  exclaimed 
Mrs.  Buchanan ; “ I’d  be  ashamed  to  sit  crouched 
up  there  when  any  one  else  is  fighting.  Better  die 
nobly  than  live  shamefully!” 

In  the  mean  time  Major  Buchanan  had  arranged 
his  men  in  the  block-houses  so  as  to  rake  the  Indi- 
ans by  a flank  fire,  and  was  pouring  a galling  fire 
into  the  head  of  the  assaulting  column.  Yet,  nothing 
dismayed,  the  daring  foe  crowded  against  the  gates, 
their  blows  falling  faster  and  heavier,  while  now 
and  then  they  attempted  to  scale  the  pickets.  At 
length,  unable  to  do  this  or  to  force  open  the  well- 
barred  and  ponderous  gate,  the  bold  warriors  ad- 
vanced to  the  block-houses,  and  standing  before 
them,  pointed  their  guns  in  at  the  port  holes ; both 
sides  sometimes  at  the  same  instant  firing  through 
the  same  opening.  It  was  the  policy  of  Major  Bu- 
chanan to  impress  upon  them  the  idea  that  the  fort 
contained  a large  garrison.  To  do  this  it  was  neces- 
sary for  his  men  to  fire  their  guns  often,  and  occa- 
sionally in  volleys.  At  this  crisis  the  whisper  went 


350 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


round — “All  is  lost.  Our  bullets  are  out!”  But 
there  were  guardian  angels  whom  these  brave  men 
knew  not  of.  Scarcely  had  the  words  been  spoken, 
when  Mrs.  Buchanan  passed  around  with  an  apron- 
ful of  bullets,  which  she  and  Nancy  Mulherrin, 
the  Major’s  sister,  had  moulded,  during  the  fight, 
out  of  her  plates  and  spoons.  At  the  same  time  she 
gave  to  each  of  the  tired  soldiers  some  brandy  which 
she  carried  in  a pewter  basin.  During  the  contest 
they  had  thus  moulded  three  hundred  bullets.  Not 
without  their  fun  were  these  hardy  men  in  this  hour 
of  peril.  In  order  to  keep  up  a show  of  good  spirits, 
they  frequently  cried  out  to  the  Indians,  “ Shoot  bul- 
lets, you  squaws!  Why  don’t  you  put  powder  in 
your  guns?”  This  was  understood,  for  Watts  and 
many  others  spoke  very  good  English,  and  they  re- 
plied by  daring  them  to  come  out  and  fight  like  men. 
In  the  midst  of  these  banterings,,  Mrs.  Buchanan  dis- 
covered a large  blunderbuss  which  had  been  standing 
in  a corner  during  the  fight  and  had  not  been  dis- 
charged, and  gave  it  to  an  Irishman  named  O’Connor 
to  fire  off.  In  telling  the  story  afterwards  the  Irish 
man  said : An’  she  gave  me  the  wide-mouthed  fusee 
and  bade  me  to  shoot  that  at  the  blasted  creeters,  and 
Jimmy  O’Connor  he  took  the  fusee,  and  he  pulled  the 
trigger  when  the  rest  fired,  for  three  or  four  times, 
and  loaded  her  again  every  time,  and  so  ye  see,  yei 
honor,  when  I pulled  the  trigger  again,  the  fusee  went 
off,  it  did,  and  Jimmy  O’Connor  went  under  the 
bed.  This  unequal  contest  lasted  for  four  long  hours, 
and  when  the  first  blush  of  morning  began  to  appear 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


351 


in  the  east,  most  of  the  chiefs  were  killed  or  wounded. 
The  boastful  Shawnee  was  transfixed  in  death,  leaning 
against  the  gate  which  he  had  so  valorously  assaulted ; 
the  White  Owl’s  son  and  Unacate,  or  the  White-man- 
killer,  were  mortally  wounded,  .and  John  Watts  was 
borne  off  on  a litter,  shot  through  both  legs. 

During  this  protracted  fight  Mrs.  Buchanan  aided 
the  defenders  by  words  and  deeds,  as  if  life  or  death 
depended  upon  the  efforts  which  she  was  then  making. 
She  knew,  and  all  knew,  that  if  the  assault  could  be 
repelled  for  four  hours,  relief  would  come  from  the 
neighboring  posts.  Foiled,  discouraged,  their  leaders 
disabled,  this  formidable  army  of  savage  warriors 
precipitately  retreated  towards  their  country,  bearing 
off  most  of  their  wounded,  yet  leaving  many  dead 
upon  the  field.  This  was  the  first  formidable  invasion 
of  Cumberland  valley,  and  its  tide  was  rolled  back  as 
much  by  the  presence  of  mind  and  heroic  firmness 
of  Sarah  Buchanan  and  Nancy  Mulherrin,  as  by  the 
rifles  of  their  husbands  and  friends.  The  tame  of  this 
gallant  defence  went  abroad,  and  the  young  wife  of 
Major  Buchanan  was  celebrated  as  the  greatest  he- 
roine of  the  West.  From  1780  to  1796,  there  was 
not  a year  in  which  her  family  had  not  been  ex- 
posed to  peril,  in  which,  of  course,  she  was  a partaker.* 

* This  heroic  woman  died  at  Buchanan’s  Station,  on  the  twenty- 
third  of  November,  1831.  She  sleeps  on  the  site  of  the  old  fort  that 
witnessed  her  bravery  ; and  Carcas,  queen  of  Carcassone,  who  defended 
that  city  with  such  courage  and  resolution,  when  it  was  beseiged  by 
Charlemagne,  that  the  Emperor  permitted  her  to  retain  the  sovereignty 
>f  the  place,  has  scarcely  higher  claims  to  historical  commemoration. 

Author. 


MAGNANIMITY  OF  MRS.  M‘KAY. 


Greatness  of  mind,  and  nobleness,  their  seat 
In  her  build  loveliest. 

Milton. 

“In  the  beginning  of  June,  1781,  the  British  garri- 
son at  Augusta,  Georgia,  capitulated  to  the  American 
forces,  under  command  of  General  Pickens  and  Colo- 
nel Lee,  of  the  partizan  legion.  Colonel  Grierson, 
who  was  obnoxious  to  the  Americans  on  account  of 
his  barbarities,  was  shot  down  by  an  unknown  hand, 
after  he  was  a prisoner.  A reward  of  one  hundred 
guineas  was  offered  to  any  person  who  would  point 
out  the  offender,  but  in  vain.  Colonel  Brown,  the 
British  commander,  expecting  the  same  fate,  con- 
scious that  he  deserved  it,  from  his  unrelenting  and 
vindictive  disposition  towards  the  Americans,  was 
furnished  with  a guard,  although  he  had  banged 
thirteen  American  prisoners,  and  had  given  others 
into  the  hands  of  the  Indians  to  be  tortured.  On 
his  way  to  Savannah,  he  passed  through  the  settle- 
ments where  he  had  burned  a number  of  houses, 
and  hung  some  of  the  relatives  of  the  inhabitants. 
At  Silverbluff,  Mrs.  McKay  obtained  leave  of  the 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


353 


American  officer,  who  commanded  his  safeguard,  to 
speak  to  him : when  she  thus  addressed  him : — 
4 Colonel  Brown,  in  the  late  day  of  your  prosperity, 
I visited  your  camp,  and  on  my  knees  supplicated 
for  the  life  of  my  only  son,  but  you  were  deaf  tc 
my  entreaties;  you  hanged  him,  though  a beardless 
youth,  before  my  face.  These  eyes  have  seen  him 
scalped  by  the  savages  under  your  immediate  com- 
mand, and  for  no  better  reason  than  that  his  name 
was  M4Kay.  As  you  are  now  a prisoner  to  the 
leaders  of  my  country,  for  the  present  I lay  aside  all 
thoughts  of  revenge,  but  when  you  resume  your 
sword,  I will  go  five  hundred  miles  to  demand  satis- 
faction at  the  point  of  it,  for  the  murder  of  my 
son ! 5 55 


23 


HEROIC  CONDUCT  OF  A DAUGHTER. 


Fair  was  her  face,  and  spotless  was  her  mind, 

Where  filial  love  with  virgin  sweetness  joined. 

Pope. 

Xantippe,  a Roman  lady,  who  nursed  her  father, 
the  aged  Cimonus,  while  he  was  a prisoner,  and 
thereby  saved  his  life,  rendered  herself  immortal  by 
this  manifestation  of  filial  affection.  But  the  “ Ro- 
man Charity  ” is  not  comparable  to  the  following 
extraordinary  deed  of  filial  sacrifice. 

The  winter  of  1783  was  unusually  severe,  and 
the  sufferings  of  the  poor  in  the  city  of  New  York 
were  very  great.  One  family,  consisting  of  the  hus- 
band, wife  and  one  daughter,  were,  on  one  occasion, 
reduced  to  the  last  stick  of  wood,  and  were  wholly 
destitute  of  provisions.  The  daughter,  who  had 
thus  far  supported  her  aged  and  infirm  parents  by 
her  industry,  was  out  of  work,  and  knew  not  what 
to  do.  At  this  juncture  of  affairs,  she  recollected 
that  a dentist  had  advertised  for  sound  fore-teeth, 
and  offered  three  guineas  a piece  for  all  he  was 
himself  permitted  to  extract.  In  the  midst  of  her 
grief,  the  generous  girl  suddenly  brightened  up 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


355 


and  hastened  to  the  dentist’s  office.  She  made 
known  the  condition  of  her  parents,  and  offered  to 
dispose  of  all  her  fore-teeth  on  his  terms.  The 
dentist,  instead  of  extracting  a tooth,  with  tears  in 
his  eyes,  placed  in  her  hands  ten  guineas,  and  sent 
her,  rejoicing,  to  the  relief  of  her  parents. 


HEROIC  DECISION. 


No  thought  of  flight. 

None  of  retreat,  no  unbecoming  deed 
That  argued  fear. 

Milton. 

We  Lave  elsewhere  in  this  work  spoken  o the 
perils  necessary  to  be  encountered  by  Christian  mis- 
sionaries, and  particularly  those  who  connect  tuem- 
selves  with  stations  in  Africa.  The  history  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  mission  in  that  quarter  of  the 
globe,  presents  a noble,  if  not  a long,  list  of  soldiers 
who  early  fen  there  while  contending  with  Error. 
They  sank  upon  the  battle  field,  with  their  armor  on 
and  covered  with  glory.  They  fell  not  before  the 
hosts  of  paganism;  they  were  conquered  by  the 
climate.  Most  of  those  who  have  not  died  on  the 
field,  have  been  obliged  to  shortly  flee  to  their  native 
land  for  the  restoration  of  health.  Here  and  there 
one  has  withstood  the  adverse  nature  of  the  climate, 
toiled  for  years,  and  done  a noble  work,  which  has 
caused  rejoicing  in  Heaven  and  honored  the  name 
of  Christ  on  earth. 

Few  persons,  whose  names  are  connected  with  the 
history  of  modern  missions,  have  displayed  a more  de- 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


357 


roted,  self-sacrificing  spirit,  or  greater  moral  courage, 
than  Miss  Sophronia  Farrington.  Prior  to  the  autumn 
of  1 834,  of  six  missionaries  who  had  entered  the  field 
in  Africa  under  the  patronage  of  American  Me- 
thodists, three  * were  in  their  graves,  and  two  f 
had  returned  to  the  United  States  for  health.  Miss 
Farrington  stood  alone,  and  the  question  arose,  what 
she  should  do.  The  officers  of  the  Missionary  Society 
were  willing  she  should  return  home,  and  her  friends 
were  urging  it  upon  her.  With  her  co-laborers  all 
dead  or  fled,  she  seemed  herself  to  be  left  to  the 
alternative  either  to  flee  or  fall.  Should  she  choose 
the  former  course,  the  mission  would  be  wholly,  and, 
for  ought  she  knew,  for  ever,  abandoned.  What  then 
should  she  do  ? Like  a hero,  to  use  her  own  words, 
she  had  “offered  her  soul  upon  the  altar  of  her  God, 
for  the  salvation  of  that  long  benighted  continent,” 
and  with  courage  that  shames  the  facer  of  the  can- 
non’s mouth,  she  resolved  to  remain  and  toil  alone, 
beside  the  graves  of  her  fallen  companions  till  more 
help  should  come  or  the  Divine  Husbandman  close 
the  labors  of  the  lone  vine-dresser.  More  help 
arrived  in  a few  months,  and,  according  to  the 
annual  report  of  1836,  the  mission,  of  whose  history 
she  formed  at  one  time  the  connecting  link,  “corn 
tinued  to  loom  up  in  bright  perspective,  and  promise 
a rich  reward  for  all  the  labors  and  sufferings  of 
the  faithful  missionaries.” 

* Rev.  M.  B.  Cox  and  Rev.  0.  S.  Wright  a id  wife. 

t Rev.  Mr.  Spaulding  and  lady. 


THE  DAUGHTER  OF  AARON  BURR. 


’T  is  thine  on  every  heart  to  ’grave  thy  praise, 

A monument  which  Worth  alone  can  raise. 

Broome. 

Theodosia,  the  only  daughter  of  Aaron  Burr,  was 
a woman  of  superior  mental  accomplishments,  and 
very  strong  affections.  She  was  married  to  Joseph 
Alston,  Esq.,  afterwards  Governor  of  South  Carolina, 
in  1801.  She  was  then  in  her  eighteenth  year.  That 
she  was  an  excellent  wife  may  be  gathered,  not 
merely  from  the  story  of  her  life,  but  from  the  testi- 
mony of  her  husband.  Writing  to  her  father  in  1813 
— soon  after  her  death — he  says,  “ The  man  who  has 
been  deemed  worthy  of  the  heart  of  Theodosia  Burr, 
and  has  felt  what  it  was  to  be  blest  with  such  a 
woman’s,  will  never  forget  his  elevation.”* 

In  regard  to  her  attachment  to  her  father,  a writer, 
quoted  in  the  appendix  to  Safford’s  Life  of  Blenner- 
hassett,  remarks  as  follows  : u Her  love  for  her  father 
partook  of  the  purity  of  a better  world  ; holy,  deep, 
unchanging;  it  reminds  us  of  the  affection  which  a 
celestial  spirit  might  be  supposed  to  entertain  for  a 


Memoirs  of  Aaron  Burr,  by  Matthew  L.  Davis,  vol.  2,  p.  432. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


359 


parent  cast  down  from  Leaven,  for  sharing  in  the  sin 
of  the  ‘Son  of  the  Morning.5  No  sooner  did  she 
hear  of  the  arrest  of  her  father,  than  she  fled  to  his 
side.*  There  is  nothing  in  human  history  more 
touching  than  the  hurried  letters,  blotted  with  tears, 
in  which  she  announced  her  daily  progress  to  Rich- 
mond ; for  she  was  too  weak  to  travel  with  the 
rapidity  of  the  mail.55 

Had  her  health  permitted,  and  occasion  presented 
itself,  she  would  have  matched  in  heroism  any  act  in 
the  life  of  Margaret  Roper  or  Elizabeth  Cazotte.f 

The  trial  of  her  father  for  treason,  and  his  virtual 
banishment,  not  only  depressed  her  spirits,  but  fear- 
fully racked  her  already  feeble  constitution,  yet  his 
disgrace  abated  not  a tittle  the  ardor  of  her  affection  ; 
and  when  he  returned  from  Europe,  though  in  feeble 
health,  she  resolved  to  visit  him  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  She  was  then  in  South  Carolina.  Embarking 
in  the  privateer  Patriot,  on  the  thirteenth  of  January. 


* He  was  imprisoned  in  Richmond,  Virginia. — Author. 

] Mrs.  Roper  accompanied  her  father,  Sir  Thomas  More,  Vo  prison, 
and  after  he  was  executed  and  his  head  had  lain  fourteen  days  on 
London  Bridge,  she  purchased  it,  and  thus  saved  it  from  being  thrown 
into  the  Thames.  For  this  intrepidity,  by  the  king’s  orders  she  was 
cast  into  prison — though  she  was  soon  permitted  to  escape. 

Mademoiselle  Cazotte  was  the  daughter  of  an  aged  Frenchman,  who, 
on  one  occasion,  during  the  Revolution  in  his  country,  would  have  lost 
his  life  but  for  her  courage.  He  was  a “ counter-revolutionist,”  and 
after  an  imprisonment,  during  which  his  daughter  chose  to  be  immured 
with  him,  on  the  second  day  of  September,  he  was  about  to  be  slain. 
An  axe  was  raised  over  his  head,  when  Elizabeth  threw  herself  upon 
him,  and  exclaimed,  “ Strike,  barbarians ; you  cannot  reach  my  father 
but  through  my  heart.”  She  did  other  heroic  deeds. 


360 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


1813,  she  was  never  heard  of  afterwards.  The 
schooner  may  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  pirates: 
but,  as  a heavy  gale  was  experienced  for  several 
days  soon  after  leaving  Georgetown,  the  probability 
is  that  the  craft  foundered.  Thus  closed  a life  to 
which  the  panegyrical  exclamation  of  Milton  happily 
applies : 

O glorious  trial  of  exceeding  love 

Illustrious  evidence,  example  high. 


FEMALE  INTREPIDITY. 


Be  not  dismayed  — fear  nurses  up  a danger, 

And  resolution  kills  it  in  the  birth. 

Phillips 

During  the  war  between  the  Indians  and  Ken 
tuckians,  while  the  owner  of  a plantation  in  a thinly 
settled  part  of  the  state,  was  at  work  with  his  slaves 
in  the  field,  a sable  sentinel,  who  was  posted  near  the 
house,  saw  a party  of  savages  approaching.  One  of 
them  was  more  fleet  than  he,  and  reaching  the  house 
at  the  same  moment,  they  rushed  within  doors  to- 
gether. The  planter’s  wife  instantly  closed  the  dooi 
and  the  negro  and  Indian  grappled.  The  former  was 
the  stronger  of  the  two,  though  the  latter  was  the 
more  expert.  After  a hard  struggle,  the  negro  threw 
the  Indian,  and  held  him  fast  until  the  woman  be- 
headed him  with  a broad-axe.  The  negro  then  seized 
the  guns,  and  began  to  fire  at  the  other  Indians 
through  the  loop-holes.  The  guns  were  loaded  by 
the  woman  as  fast  as  discharged.  Their  frequent 
report  soon  brought  the  laborers  from  the  field,  and 
the  surviving  Indians  were  driven  away. 


THE  WIFE  OF  RICHARD  SHUBRICK 


Be  fire  with  fire  ; 

Threaten  the  threatener,  and  out  face  the  brow 
Of  bragging  horror  : so  shall  inferior  eyes. 

That  borrow  their  behavior  from  the  great, 

Grow  great  by  your  example. 

Shakspeare. 

The  following  anecdotes  of  Mrs.  Richard  Shubrick 
may  be  found  in  the  First  Series  of  Major  Garden’s 
Revolutionary  Anecdotes.  “ There  was,”  he  writes, 
“ an  appearance  of  personal  debility  about  her  that 
rendered  her  peculiarly  interesting : it  seemed  to  so- 
licit the  interest  of  every  heart,  and  the  man  would 
have  felt  himself  degraded  who  would  not  have  put 
his  life  at  hazard  to  serve  her.  Yet,  when  firmness 
of  character  was  requisite,  when  fortitude  was  called 
for  to  repel  the  encroachments  of  aggression,  there 
was  not  a more  intrepid  being  in  existence. 

“ An  American  soldier,  flying  from  a party  of  the 
enemy,  sough*  her  protection,  and  was  promised  it. 
The  British,  pressing  close  upon  him,  insisted  that 
he  should  be  delivered  up,  threatening  immediate 
and  universal  destruction  in  case  of  refusal.  The 
ladies,  her  friends  and  companions,  who  were  in  the 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


363 


house  with  her,  shrunk  from  the  contest,  and  were 
silent ; but,  undaunted  by  their  threats,  this  Intrepid 
lady  placed  herself  before  the  chamber  into  which 
the  unfortunate  fugitive  had  been  conducted,  and 
resolutely  said,  4 To  men  of  honor  the  chamber  of  a 
lady  should  be  as  sacred  as  the  sanctuary!  I will 
defend  the  passage  to  it  though  I perish.  You  may 
succeed,  and  enter  it,  but' it  shall  be  over  my  corpse.5 
‘By  God,5  said  the  officer,  ‘if  muskets  were  only 
placed  in  the  hands  of  a few  such  women,  our  only 
safety  would  be  found  in  retreat.  Your  intrepidity, 
madam,  gives  you  security ; from  me  you  shall  meet 
no  further  annoyance.5 

“ At  Brabant,  the  seat  of  the  respectable  and  patri- 
otic Bishop  Smith,  a sergeant  of  Tarleton’s  dragoons, 
eager  for  the  acquisition  of  plunder,  followed  the  over- 
seer, a man  advanced  in  years,  into  the  apartment 
where  the  ladies  of  the  family  were  assembled,  and 
on  his  refusing  to  discover  the  spot  in  which  the 
plate  was  concealed,  struck  him  with  violence,  in- 
flicting a severe  sabre  wound  across  the  shoulders. 
Aroused  by  the  infamy  of  the  act,  Mrs.  Shubrick, 
starting  from  her  seat,  and  placing  herself  betwixt 
the  ruffian  and  his  victim,  resolutely  said,  ‘ Place 
yourself  behind  me,  Murdoch;  the  interposition  of 
my  body  shall  give  you  protection,  or  I will  die : 5 
then,  addressing  herself  to  the  sergeant,  exclaimed, 
‘O  what  a degradation  of  manhood — what  departure 
from  that  gallantry  which  was  once  the  characteristic 
of  British  soldiers.  Human  nature  is  degraded  by 
your  barbarity; — but  should  you  persist,  then  strike 


364 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


at  me , for  till  I die,  no  further  injury  shall  be  d(  ne 
to  him'  The  sergeant,  unable  to  resist  such  com- 
manding eloquence,  retired.55* 


* “ The  hope,  however,  of  attaining  the  object  in  view,  very  speedily 
subjected  the  unfortunate  Murdoch  to  new  persecution.  He  was  tied 
up  under  the  very  tree  where  the  plate  was  buried,  and  threatened 
with  immediate  execution  unless  he  would  make  the  discovery  required. 
But  although  well  acquainted  witii  the  unrelenting  severity  of  his 
enemy,  and  earnestly  solicited  by  his  wife,  to  save  his  life  by  a speedy 
confession  of  the  place  of  deposit,  he 'persisted  resolutely,  that  a sacred 
trust  was  not  to  be  betrayed,  and  actually  succeeded  in  preserving  it.” 


KEEN  RETORT  OF  MRS.  ASHE. 


I have  a thousand  spirits  in  one  breast, 

To  answer  twenty  thousand  such  as  you. 

Shakspeare. 

While  General  Leslie  was  staying  with  the  British 
troops  at  Halifax,  North  Carolina,  Colonel  Tarleton 
and  other  officers  held  their  quarters  at  the  house 
of  Colonel  Ashe,  whose  wife  was  a firm  friend  of 
liberty.  Her  beau  ideal  of  the  hero  was  Colonel 
William  Washington;  and,  knowing  this  fact,  the 
sarcastic  Tarleton  took  great  delight  in  speakmg 
diminutively  of  this  officer  in  her  presence.  In  his 
jesting  way,  he  remarked  to  her  one  time,  that  he 
should  like  to  have  an  opportunity  of  seeing  hei 
friend,  Colonel  Washington,  whom  he  had  understood 
to  be  a very  small  man.  Mrs.  Ashe  promptly  replied, 
“ If  you  had  looked  behind  you,  Colonel  Tarleton, 
at  the  battle  of  the  Cowpens,  you  would  have  had 
that  pleasure.’"* 


* It  is  said  that  this  taunt  was  so  keenly  felt  that  Tarleton  laid  hi9 
hand  on  the  hilt  of  his  sword.  General  Leslie  entered  the  room  at 
the  moment,  and  seeing  the  agitation  of  Mrs.  Ashe,  and  learning  its 
cause,  said  to  her,  “ Say  what  you  please,  Mrs.  Ashe  ; Colonel  Tarleton 

knows  better  than  to  insult  a lady  in  my  presence.* * 


PHILANTHROPIC  WIFE  OF  A DRUNKARD. 


There’s  in  you  all  that  we  believe  of  heaven. 

Otway. 

u The  amazing  influence  of  one  Christian,  who 
shows  in  her  life  the  spirit  of  Christ,  is  illustrated  in 
a striking  manner,  in  the  life  of  a lady  who  died  not 
long  since,  in  one  of  the  principal  cities  of  the 
United  States.  I am  not  permitted  to  give  her  name, 
nor  all  the  particulars  of  her  life.  But  what  I relate 
may  be  relied  upon,  not  only  as  facts,  but  as  far 
below  the  whole  truth.  She  had  been  for  a long  time 
afflicted  with  a drunken  husband.  At  length  the 
sheriff  came,  and  swept  off  all  her  property,  not 
excepting  her  household  furniture,  to  discharge  his 
grog  bills.  At  this  distressing  crisis,  she  retired  to 
an  upper  room,  laid  her  babe  upon  the  bare  floor, 
kneeled  down  over  it,  and  offered  up  the  following 
petition : “ O Lord,  if  thou  wilt  in  any  way  remove 
from  me  this  affliction,  I will  serve  thee  upon  bread 
and  water , all  the  days  of  my  life.5-5  The  Lord  took 
her  at  her  word.  Her  besotted  husband  immedi 
ately  disappeared,  and  was  never  heard  of  again 
till  after  her  death  The  church  would  now  have 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN.  367 

maintained  her,  but  she  would  not  consent  to  become 
a charge  to  others.  Although  in  feeble  health,  and 
afflicted  with  the  sick  headache,  she  opened  a small  ? 
school,  from  which  she  obtained  a bare  subsistence ; 
though  it  was  often  no  more  than  what  was  contained 
in  the  condition  of  her  prayer — literally  bread  and 
water.  She  was  a lady  of  pleasing  address,  and  of  a 
mild  and  gentle  disposition.  “In  her  lips  was  the 
law  of  kindness.”  Yet  she  possessed  an  energy  of 
character  and  a spirit  of  perseverance,  which  the 
power  of  faith  alone  can  impart.  When  she  under- 
took any  Christian  enterprise,  she  was  discouraged  by 
no  obstacles,  and  appalled  by  no  difficulties.  She 
resided  in  the  most  wicked  and  abandoned  part  of 
the  city,  which  afforded  a great  field  of  labor.  Her 
benevolent  heart  was  pained  at  seeing  the  grog  shops 
open  upon  the  holy  Sabbath.  She  undertook  the 
difficult  and  almost  hopeless  task  of  closing  these 
sinks  of  moral  pollution  upon  the  Lord’s  day,  and 
succeeded.  This  was  accomplished  by  the  mild  in- 
fluence of  persuasion,  flowing  from  the  lips  of  kind- 
ness, and  clothed  with  that  power  which  always 
accompanies  the  true  spirit  of  the  gospel.  But  she 
was  not  satisfied  with  seeing  the  front  doors  and 
windows  of  these  houses  closed.  She  would,  therefore, 
upon  the  morning  of  the  Sabbath,  pass  round,  and 
enter  these  shops  through  the  dwellings  occupied  by 
the  families  of  the  keepers,  where  she  often  found 
them  engaged  secretly  in  this  wickedness.  She  would 
then  remonstrate  with  them,  until  she  persuaded 
them  to  abandon  it,  and  attend  public  worship.  In 


3«8 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


this  manner,  she  abolisned,  almost  entirely,  the  sale 
of  liquors  upon  the  Sabbath,  in  the  worst  part  of  the 
.city. 

“She  also  looked  after  the  poor,  that  the  Gospel 
might  be  preached  to  them.  She  carried  wTith  her  the 
number  of  those  pews  in  the  church  which  were 
unoccupied.  And  upon  Sabbath  mornings,  she  made 
it  her  business  to  go  out  in  the  streets  and  lanes  of 
the  city,  and  persuade  the  poor  to  come  in  and  fill  up 
these  vacant  seats.  By  her  perseverance  and  energy, 
she  would  remove  every  objection,  until  she  had 
brought  them  to  the  house  of  God.  She  was  inces- 
sant and  untiring  in  every  effort  for  doing  good.  She 
would  establish  a Sabbath  school,  and  superintend  it 
until  she  saw  it  flourishing,  and  then  deliver  it  into 
the  hands  of  some  suitable  person,  and  go  and  esta- 
blish another.  She  collected  together  a Bible  class  of 
apprentices,  which  she  taught  herself.  Her  pastor 
one  day  visited  it,  and  found  half  of  them  in  tears, 
under  deep  conviction.  She  was  faithful  to  the 
church  and  to  impenitent  sinners.  It  was  her  habitual 
practice  to  reprove  sin,  and  to  warn  sinners  wherever 
she  found  them.  At  the  time  of  her  death,  she  had 
under  her  care  a number  of  pious  young  men  pre- 
paring for  the  ministry.  These  she  had  looked  after, 
and  brought  out  of  obscurity.  As  soon  as  their  piety 
uad  been  sufficiently  proved,  she  would  bring  them 
to  the  notice  of  her  Christian  friends.  She  persuaded 
pious  teachers  to  give  them  gratuitous  instruction, 
j,nd  pious  booksellers  to  supply  them  with  books.  In 
the  same  way,  she  procured  their  board  in  the 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN, 


369 


families  of  wealthy  Christians ; and  she  formed  little 
societies  of  ladies,  to  supply  them  with  clothing. 
There  was  probably  no  person  in  the  city  whose  death 
would  have  occasioned  the  shedding  of  more  tears 
or  called  forth  more  sincere  and  heartfelt  grief.”  * 


* Practical  Directory  for  Young  Christian  Females, 


24 


THE  MOTHER  OF  DR.  DWIGHT. 


Though  renown 

Plant  laurels  on  the  warrior’s  grave,  and  wreathe 
# With  bays  the  slumbering  bard  — the  mother’s  urn 
Shall  claim  more  dear  memorials  : gratitude 
Shall  there  abide  ; affection,  reverence,  there 
Shall  oft  revolve  the  precepts  which  now  speak 
With  emphasis  divine. 

Mrs.  West. 

The  mother  of  Timothy  Dwight  was  a daughter 
of  Jonathan  Edwards,  and  seems  to  have  inherited 
a large  share  of  her  father’s  talents  and  spiritual 
graces.  Her  powers  of  mind  were  unusually  strong; 
her  knowledge  was  extensive  and  varied,  and  her 
piety  highly  fervid.  She  married  at  an  early  age; 
became  a mother  when  eighteen ; had  a large  family ; 
and,  though  never  negligent  of  domestic  duties,  she 
daily  and  assiduously  devoted  herself  to  the  education 
of  her  children.  She'  began  to  instruct  Timothy,  it 
is  said,  “ as  soon  as  he  was  able  to  speak ; and  such 
was  his  eagerness,  as  well  as  his  capacity  for  im- 
provement, that  he  learned  the  alphabet  at  a single 
lesson;  and  before  he  was  four  years  old,  was  able 
to  read  the  Bible  with  ease  and  correctness. 

She  taught  him  from  the  very  dawn  of  his  reason 
to  fear  God  and  to  keep  his  commandments ; to  be 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


371 


conscientiously  just,  kind.  affectionate,  charitable,  and 
forgiving;  to  preserve,  on  all  occasions,  and  under 
all  circumstances,  the  most  sacred  regard  for  truth; 
and  to  relieve  the  distresses  and  supply  the  wants 
of  the  poor  and  unfortunate.  She  aimed,  at  a very 
early  period,  to  enlighten  his  conscience,  to  make 
him  afraid  of  sin,  and  to  teach  him  to  hope  for  par- 
don only  through  Christ.  The  impressions  thus  made 
upon  his  mind  in  infancy,  were  never  effaced.  A 
great  proportion  of  the  instruction  which  he  received 
before  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  six  years,  was  at 
home  with  his  mother.  His  school  room  was  the 
nursery.  Here  he  had  his  regular  hours  for  study, 
as  in  a school ; and  twice  every  day  she  heard  him 
repeat  his  lesson.  Here,  in  addition  to  his  stated 
task,  he  watched  the  cradle  of  his  younger  brother. 
When  his  lesson  was  recited,  he  was  permitted  to 
read  such  books  as  he  chose,  until  the  limited  period 
was  expired.  During  these  intervals,  he  often  read 
over  the  historical  parts  of  the  Bible,  and  gave  an 
account  of  them  to  his  mother.  So  deep  and  distinct 
was  the  impression  which  these  narrations  made  upon 
his  mind,  that  their  minutest  incidents  were  indelibly 
fixed  upon  his  memory.  His  relish  for  reading  was 
thus  early  formed,  and  was  strengthened  by  the  con- 
versation and  example  of  his  mother.  His  early 
knowledge  of  the  Bible  led  to  that  ready,  accurate, 
and  extensive  acquaintance  with  Scripture,  which  is 
so  evident  in  his  sermons  and  other  writings.”  * 


Mothers  of  the  Wise  and  Good,  d.  149, 


372 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


It  is  easy  to  see,  in  this  picture,  who  it  was  that 
laid  the  foundation  of  that  character  which  sanctified 
genius,  and  caused  it  to  shine  with  transcendent  lus- 
tre, for  more  than  twenty  years,  at  the  head  of  Yale 
college.  The  mother  of  President  Dwight  was  well 
repaid,  even  in  this  life,  for  the  pains  she  took  to 
rear  this  son  for  the  glory  of  God ; for,  while  he  never 
disobeyed  a command  of  hers  or  omitted  a filial  duty, 
he  was  kind  and  generous  to  her  in  her  old  age,  and 
smoothed  her  path  to  a Christian’s  grave.  But  her 
true  and  great  reward  for  her  maternal  faithfulness* 
is  in  another  world,  whither  she  went  to  receive  it 
about  the  year  1807. 


HAPPY  RESULTS  OF  MATERNAL  FIDELITY. 


Lift  the  heart  and  bend  the  knee. 

Mrs.  Hemans. 

The  superior  influence  of  the  mother  in  forming  the 
character  of  the  child,  is  generally  conceded.  Bio- 
graphical literature  abounds  with  illustrations  of  this 
fact,  and  renders  it  incontrovertible.  As  examples, 
in  Great  Britain,  we  are  often,  with  propriety,  pointed 
to  the  mothers  of  Isaac  and  John  Newton,  Dod- 
dridge, the  Wesleys,  Richard  Cecil,  Legh  Richmond 
and  many  others ; but  it  is  needless  for  any  people 
to  search  in  foreign  lands  for  such  examples. 

In  the  notices  of  the  mothers  of  Washington,  Jack- 
son,  Randolph,  Dwight  and  some  others,  on  preceding 
pages  of  this  volume,  the  truth  of  the  same  pro- 
position is  endeavored  to  be  substantiated : and,  as 
facts  most  forcibly  illustrate  argument,  and  wholesome 
hints  are  often  easiest  given  by  example,  we  will  add 
two  or  three  more  anecdotes  having  a bearing  on  this 
point. 

The  mother  of  Jonathan  Edwards,  it  is  well  known, 
began  to  pray  for  him  as  soon  as  he  was  born ; and 
probably  no  mother  ever  strove  harder  than  she  to 


874 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


rear  a child  “ in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the 
Lord.”  The  result  of  her  efforts  is  known  to  the 
world. 

The  late  Professor  Knowles,  of  the  Newton  theo- 
logical institution,  received  much  pious  instruction 
from  his  mother  in  his  infant  years  ; and,  as  he  lost 
his  father  at  the  age  of  twelve,  at  that  period  she 
assumed  wholly  the  guidance  of  his  steps  and  his 
studies.  She  early  discovered  his. love  of  books  and 
his  promising  talents ; and  while  she  admonished  him, 
and  led  him  to  the  Saviour,  she  also  sympathized 
with  him  in  his  literary  taste  and  encouraged  him  in 
his  scientific  pursuits.  The  zealous  minister,  the 
learned  biblical  instructor,  the  polished  writer  and 
biographer  of  the  first  Mrs.  Judson,  owed  very  much 
to  the  moral  training  and  the  literary  encouragement 
of  his  faithful  mother. 

Nearly  half  a century  ago,  the  mother  of  the  cele- 
brated Beecher  family,  made  the  following  record  : 
“This  morning  I rose  very  early  to  pray  for  my 
children  ; and  especially  that  my  sons  may  be  minis- 
ters and  missionaries  of  Jesus  Christ.”  The  “ fervent” 
prayers  of  the  good  woman  were  “ effectual:”  her  five 
sons  became  “ ministers  and  missionaries  of  Jesus 
Christ,”  and  all  her  children — eight  in  number — are 
connected  with  the  “ household  of  God  ” — several  on 
earth  and  one,*  at  least,  in  heaven. 


The  late  George  Beecher. 


WONDERFUL  ENDURANCE  AND  PERSE 
YERANCE  OF  MRS.  SCOTT. 


Mute 

The  camel  labors  with  the  heaviest  load, 

And  the  wolf  dies  in  silence ; not  bestowed 
In  vain  should  such  examples  b? ; if  they, 

Tilings  of  ignoble  or  of  savage  mood, 

Endure  and  shrink  not,  we  of  n >bler  clay, 

May  temper  it  to  bear  — it  is  but  for  a day. 

Byron. 

Mrs.  Scott,  a resident  of  Washington  county,  Vir- 
ginia, was  taken  captive  by  Indians  on  the  night 
of  the  twenty-ninth  of  June,  1785.  Her  husband 
and  all  her  children  were  slain ; and  before  morning 
she  was  forced  to  commence  her  march  through  the 
wilderness. 

On  the  eleventh  day  of  her  captivity,  while  in 
charge  of  four  Indians,  provision  becoming  scarce, 
a halt  was  made,  and  three  of  the  number  went  on 
a hunting  excursion.  Being  left  in  the  care  of  an 
old  man,  she  made  him  believe  she  was  reconciled 
tc  her  condition,  and  thus  threw  him  off  his  guard. 
Anxious  to  escape,  and  having  matured  her  plans, 
she  asked  him,  in  the  most  disinterested  manner 
possible,  to  let  her  go  to  a small  stream,  neai.  oy, 


376 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


and  wash  hei  apron,  which  was  besmeared  with  the 
blood  of  one  of  her  children.  He  gave  her  leave, 
and  while  he  was  busy  in  “ graining  a deer-skin,” 
she  started  off.  Arriving  at  the  stream,  without  a 
moment’s  hesitation,  she  pushed  on  in  the  direction 
of  a mountain.  Traveling  till  late  at  night,  she  came 
into  a valley  where  she  hoped  to  find  the  track  along 
which  she  had  been  taken  by  her  captors,  and  thereby 
be  able  to  retrace  her  steps.  Hurry  mg  across  the 
valley  to  the  margin  of  a river,  which  she  supposed 
must  be  the  eastern  branch  of  the  Kentucky,  she 
discovered  in  the  sand  the  tracks  of  two  men  who 
had  followed  the  stream  upwards  and  returned. 
Thinking  them  to  be  the  prints  of  pursuers,  and  that 
they  had  returned  from  the  search,  she  took  courage, 
thanked  God,  and  was  prepared  to  continue  her 
flight. 

On  the  third  day  she  came  very  near  falling  into 
the  hands  of  savages,  a company  whom  she  supposed 
had  been  sent  to  Clinch  river  on  a pilfering  excursion. 
Hearing  their  approach  before  they  came  in  sight, 
she  concealed  herself,  and  they  passed  without  no- 
ticing her.  She  now  became  greatly  alarmed,  and 
was  so  bewildered  as  to  lose  her  way  and  to  wander 
at  random  for  several  days. 

At  length,  coming  to  a stream  that  seemed  to  flow 
from  the  east,  she  concluded  it  must  be  Sandy  river; 
and  resolving  to  trace  it  to  its  source,  which  was  near 
a settlement  where  she  was  acquainted,  she  pushed 
on  for  several  days,  till  she  came  into  mountainous 
regions  and  to  craggy  steeps.  There,  in  the  vicinity 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


317 


of  a r orodigious  waterfall,”  she  was  forced  to  leap 
from  v precipice,  upon  some  rocks,  and  was  so  stun- 
ned as  to  be  obliged  to  make  a short  delay  in  her 
journey. 

Soon  after  passing  through  the  mountain,*  she  was 
bitten  by  a snake  which  she  supposed  was  venomous. 
She  killed  it,  and  expected  her  turn  to  die  would 
come  next;  but  the  only  injury  she  received  was 
some  pain  and  the  slight  swelling  of  one  foot.  A 
writer,  whose  narration  we  follow  and  whose  facts 
are  more  reliable  than  his  philosophy,  thinks  that, 
being  “ reduced  to  a mere  skeleton,  with  fatigue,  hun- 
ger and  grief,”  she  was  probably,  on  that  account, 
“ saved  from  the  effects  of  the  poisonous  fangs.” 

Leaving  the  river,  Mrs.  Scott  came  to  a forked 
valley,  and  watching  the  flight  of  birds,  took  the 
branch  they  did,  and  in  two  days  came  in  sight  of 
New  Garden,  the  settlement  on  Clinch  river,  before 
referred  to.  Thus,  after  wandering  in  the  wilderness 
for  six  long  weeks,  almost  destitute  of  clothing,  with- 
out a weapon  of  defence  or  instrument  for  obtaining 
provision;  exposed  to  wild  beasts  and  merciless  sav- 
ages ; subsisting  a full  month  on  the  juice  of  young 
cane  stalks,  sassafras  leaves  and  similar  food;  look- 
ing t3  God  in  prayer  for  guidance  by  day,  and  for 
protection  by  night ; shielded  from  serious  harm,  and 
led  by  an  unseen  Hand,  on  the  eleventh  of  August, 
the  wanderings  of  the  widowed  and  childless  captive 
were  brought  to  a close. 


* Laurel  mountain. 


SUCCESS  OF  BOLDNESS. 


“ Courage,  prove  tliy  chance  once  more.” 

While  Colonel  Tarleton  was  marching  throng n 
North  Carolina,  near  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  he 
passed  two  nights  in  Halifax  county.  From  malice 
or  because  of  a-  scarcity  of  provision,  he  caused  his 
troops  to  catch  all  the  horses,  cattle,  hogs,  fowls,  etc., 
that  could  be  found,  most  of  which  were  destroyed. 
The  inhabitants  generally  fled  and  concealed  them- 
selves in  the  neighboring  swamps  and  thickets.  One 
young  lady,  however,  in  the  upper  part  of  the  county, 
where  they  spent  the  second  night,  refused  to  retire. 
Remaining  on  the  premises  alone,  when  the  marau- 
ders came  for  the  horses  and  cattle  thereon,  Miss 
Bishop*  ordered  them  off ; but  they  did  not  obey. 
Among  the  animals  they  drove  to  camp,  was  a favo- 
rite pony  of  hers,  which  she  resolved  to  recover. 
When  night  come  on,  she  went  unarmed  to  the  camp, 
about  a mile  distant,  and  boldly  made  known  her 
errand  to  Tarleton.  u Your  roguish  men  in  red  coats,” 
she  said  to  him,  “ came  to  my  father’s  house  about  sun- 
down and  stole  my  pony,  and  I have  walked  here 


Afterwards  Mrs.  Powell.  She  died  in  1840. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


379 


alone  and  unprotected,  to  claim  and  demand  him  ; 
and,  sir,  I must  and  I will  have  him.  I fear  not  your 
men.  They  are  base  and  unprincipled  enough  to 
dare  to  offer  insult  to  an  unprotected  female  ; but 
their  cowardly  hearts  will  prevent  them  from  doing 
her  any  bodily  injury.”  While  thus  speaking,  her  eye 
happened  to  fall  on  her  favorite  animal,  upon  which 
the  camp  fire  flung  its  light,  and  she  added,  “ There, 
sir,  is  my  horse.  I shall  mount  him  and  ride  peace- 
fully home  ; and  if  you  have  any  gentlemanly  feeling 
within  you,  of  which  your  men  are  totally  destitute, 
or,  if  you  have  any  regard  for  their  safety,  you  will 
see,  sir,  that  I am  not  interrupted.  But,  before  I go, 
I wish  to  say  to  you  that  he  who  can,  and  will  not, 
prevent  this  base  and  cowardly  stealing  from  hen- 
roosts, stables  and  barn-yards,  is  no  better,  in  my 
estimation,  than  the  mean,  good-for-nothing,  guilty 
wretches  who  do  the  dirty  work  with  their  own 
hands  ! Good  night,  sir.” 

Tarleton  took  the  hint ; ordered  his  soldiers  not  to 
molest  her ; and  she  was  suffered  to  take  the  pony 
and  gallop  peacefully  home. 


MARY  KNIGHT. 


The  office 

Becomes  a woman  best;  I’ll  take  it  upon  me. 

Shakspeare. 

' The  subject  of  this  brief  notice  was  a sister  of  Gen- 
eral Isaac  Worrell.  She  died  two  or  three  years 
since,  in  Philadelphia.  The  following  tribute  to  her 
patriotism  and  humanity,  was  paid  by  a New  Jersey 
newspaper,  in  July,  1849  : 

“ The  deceased  was  one  of  those  devoted  women 
who  aided  to  relieve  the  horrible  sufferings  of  Wash- 
ington’s army  at  Yalley  Forge — cooking  and  carrying 
provisions  to  them  alone,  through  the  depth  of  winter, 
even  passing  through  the  outposts  of  the  British  army 
in  the  disguise  of  a market  woman.  And  when 
Washington  was  compelled  to  retreat  before  a supe- 
rior force,  she  concealed  her  brother,  General  Worrell, 
■ — when  the  British  set  a price  on  his  head — in  a 
cider  hogshead  in  the  cellar  for  three  days,  and  fed 
him  through  the  bunghole;  the  house  being  ransacked 
four  different  times  by  the  troops  in  search  of  him, 
without  success.  She  was  over  ninety  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  her  death.” 


THE  WIFE  OF  WILLIAM  GEAY. 


— — Our  lives 

In  acts  exemplary,  not  only  win 
Ourselves  good  names,  but  do  to  others  give 
Matter  for  virtuous  deeds,  by  which  we  live. 

Chapman. 

Elizabeth  Chipman  was  born  in  Essex  county, 
Massachusetts,  in  May,  1756.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  a talented  and  eminent  lawyer  of  Marblehead,  and 
inherited  a highly  respectable  share  of  his  mental 
endowments.  Her  intellectual  faculties  and  moral 
feelings  were  early  and  highly  developed ; and  when, 
in  1782,  she  was  married  to  William  Gray,  the  cele- 
brated millionaire,  of  Salem,  in  her  native  county, 
she  was  prepared,  in  all  respects,  to  command  the 
highest  influence  in  society.  But,  although  the  wife 
of  the  richest  man  in  Massachusetts  and  probably  in 
New  England,  she  never  rose  above  her  duties  as  a 
housekeeper,  a mother  and  a Christian.  She  managed 
her  domestic  affairs  personally  and  economically  ; 
and  inculcated  in  the  minds  of  her  six  children,  by 
example  as  well  as  precept,  the  best  habits  and  the 
noblest  principles.  “She  divided  her  time  between 
reading,  household  affairs,  and  duties  to  society,  in 


382 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


such  a manner  as  never  for  a moment  to  be  in  a 
hurry.55  * She  was  as  well  known  by  the  poor  as  the 
rich:  her  virtues  irradiated  every  sphere.  She  was 
anxious  to  exalt  as  much  as  possible  the  Christian 
profession  ; hence  she  rode  in  a plain  carriage,  and 
avoided  all  unnecessary  display,  “ that  no  evil  prece- 
dents of  expense  could  arise  from  her  example.55 

The  latter  years  of  this  excellent  woman  were 
passed  in  Boston,  whither  the  family  had  removed, 
and  where  she  died  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  Septem- 
ber, 1823.  In  her  benevolent  acts  and  cheerful  life, 
is  beautifully  exemplified  the  truth  of  the  poet’s 
assertion : 

On  piety  humanity  is  built, 

And  on  humanity,  much  happiness. 


Knapp’s  Female  Biography,  p.  235 


ANECDOTE  OF  MRS.  HUNTINGTON. 


Earthly  power  doth  then  show  likest  gods. 

When  mercy  seasons  justice. 

Shakspeare. 

Susan  Mansfield  was  the  daughter  of  the  Rev 
Achilles  Mansfield,  of  Killingworth,  Connecticut,  and 
was,  born  on  the  twenty-seventh  of  January,  1791. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  or  nineteen,  she  was  married 
to  Joshua  Huntington,  pastor  of  the'  Old  South 
church,  Boston.  She  died  in  1823.  Her  memoirs, 
written  by  her  husband’s  pastoral  successor,  B.  B. 
Wisner,  was,  at  one  time,  a very  popular  work.  It 
passed  through  five  editions  in  Scotland,  in  a very 
few  years. 

Her  husband  preceded  her  to  the  grave  four  years. 
While  a widow,  she  was  robbed  of  several  articles 
of  jewelry  by  a young  woman  ; and  the  articles  were 
recovered,  and  the  thief  arrested  and  tried.  During 
the  examination,  Mrs.  Huntington  was  called  into 
court  to  identify  the  property ; and  having  done  this, 
she  was  asked  their  value.  Knowing  that  the  degree 
of  punishment  depended  somewhat  on  the  apprisal  of 
the  property,  and  pitying  the  poor  girl,  she  hinted  that 


884 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


she  never  used  much  jeweliv,  and  was  not  a good 
judge  of  its  value.  A person  was  then  called  upon  to 
prize  the  several  articles ; and  she  told  him  to  bear 
in  mind  that  they  had  been  used  for  many  years, 
were  consequently  damaged,  and  out  of  fashion.  In 
this  way  she  secured  a low  and,  to  herself,  a satisfac- 
tory valuation.  She  then  addressed  the  judge,  stating 
that  she  had  herself  taken  the  jewelry  from  a trunk; 
had  carelessly  left  it  exposed  on  a table ; had  thus 
thrown  temptation  in  the  way  of  the  girl,  and  sug- 
gested that  her  own  heedlessness  might  possibly 
have  been  the  cause  of  the  offence.  She  did  not,  she 
assured  the  judge,  wish  to  interfere  with  his  duties, 
or  wrongly  bias  his  decisions,  but  she  would,  never- 
theless, esteem  it  a favor,  if  the  punishment  inflicted 
on  the  unfortunate  transgressor,  could  be  the  lightest 
that  would  not  dishonor  the  law.  Hoping  the  igno- 
rant girl  would  repent  and  reform,  she  left  the  stand 
with  tears  in  her  eyes,  which  greatly  affected  the 
judge.  In  his  sentence  he  reminded  the  culprit,  that 
the  person  whom  she  had  most  offended,  was  the 
first  to  plead  for  a mitigation  of  her  punishment, 
and  had  saved  her  from  the  extreme  rigors  cf  a 
broken  law. 


HOSPITALITY  OF  MRS.  BIDDLE. 


— All  were  welcome  and  feasted. 

Longfellow. 

In  the  summer  of  1777,  while  Washington  was 
encamped  near  Brandywine,  a large  party  of  foragers 
came  into  the  neighborhood,  and  the  General  gave 
orders  to  a company  of  his  troops,  to  go  in  pur- 
suit of  them  early  the  next  morning,  and,  if  pos- 
sible, cut  off  their  retreat.  As  an  engagement  might 
ensue,  he  also  gave  orders  that  the  women  should 
leave  the  camp.  Receiving  intelligence  of  the  latter 
order,  and  unwilling  to  be  included  in  it,  the  wife 
of  Colonel  Clement  Biddle,  an  intimate  associate  of 
Mrs.  Washington  in  the  camp,  went  to  the  General 
and  told  him  that  the  officers,  who  had  gone  on  the 
expedition,  would  be  likely  to  return  hungry,  and  she 
would  consider  it  a favor  to  be  allowed  to  • remain 
and  prepare  some  refreshment  for  them.  Washington 
complied  with  her  request,  and  her  servant  vras  im 
mediately  posted  off  in  search  of  provision. 

Receiving  information  that  a band  of  “ rebels  ” 
was  in  pursuit  of  them,  the  foragers  took  a quick 

step  out  of  the  neighborhood.  The  pursuers  returned 

25 


386 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


at  a late  dinner  hour  exceedingly  fatigued  and  ripe 
for  attacking  the  “ good  things  55  prepared  by  Mrs. 
Biddle.  Notified  of  her  generosity,  the  officers  forth- 
with repaired  to  her  quarters,  each  saying,  on  his 
entrance,  u Madam,  we  hear  that  you  feed  the  army 
to-day.”  It  is  said  that  at  least  a hundred  officers 
eujojed  her  hospitalities  on  that  occasion. 

They  ate  like  Famine,  fast  and  well. 

Piling  their  plates  with  turkeys  slain  ; 

They  conquered  — bones  alone  could  tell 
Of  fowls  late  bled  at  every  veiL. 


KINDNESS  OF  SOME  CONVICTS 


When  your  head  did  but  ache, 

I knit  my  handkerchief  about  your  brows, 
****** 

And  with  my  hand  at  midnight  held  your  head ; 

And,  like  the  watchful  minutes  to  the  hour, 

Still  and  anon  cheered  up  the  heavy  time. 

Shaksfeare. 

When  the  yellow  fever  broke  ont  in  Philadelphia, 
several  years  ago,  it  was  extremely  difficult  to  obtain 
help  at  the  hospital;  application  was  consequently 
made  to  the  female  convicts  in  the  prison.  Braving 
the  danger  of  becoming  nurses  for  the  sick  under 
such  circumstances,  as  many  as  were  needed  readily 
profered  their  aid,  and  remained  as  long  as  desired, 
rhere  was  a scarcity  of  bedsteads,  and  these  females 
were  asked  for  theirs.  Willing  to  sacrifice  the  mea- 
gre comforts  of  a convict  for  the  sake  of  alleviating 
the  condition  of  the  sick  and  the  dying,  they  not 
only  gave  up  their  bedsteads,  but  bedding  also.  Such 
humane  conduct,  coming  from  whom  it  may,  is  de- 
serving of  praise  and  worthy  of  record. 


MARGARET  PRIOR. 


If  a soul  tliou  wouldst  redeem, 

And  lead  a lost  one  back  to  God ; 

Wouldst  thou  a guardian  angel  seem 
To  one  who  long  in  guilt  hath  trod  ; 

Go  kindly  to  him  — take  his  hand, 

With  gentlest  words,  within  thine  own. 

And  by  his  side  a brother  stand, 

Till  all  the  demon  thou  dethrone. 

Mrs.  C.  M.  Sawyer. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  a native  of  Fre- 
dericksburg]!, Yirginia.  She  was  born  in  1773.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Barrett.  She  was  married  to  Wil- 
liam Allen,  a merchant  of  Baltimore,  at  the  age  of 
sixteen;  resided  in  that  city  for  several  years,  and 
became  the  mother  of  seven  children.  All  but  one 
of  them  died  in  infancy.  Her  husband  was  lost  at 
sea,  in  1808,  when  her  only  surviving  child  was 
about  eighteen  months  old. 

Soon  after  becoming  a widow  she  removed  to  the 
city  of  New  York.  There,  in  1814,  she  was  united 
in  marriage  with  William  Prior,  a benevolent  and 
public-spirited  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 
She  was  herself  at  that  time  in  communion  with 
the  Baptists,  she  having  united  with  them  before 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


389 


the  death  of  her  first  husband.  In  1819  she  joined 
the  Methodists,  with  whom  she  remained  in  church- 
fellowship  the  residue  of  her  life. 

When  the  New  York  Orphan  Asylum  was  insti- 
tuted, she  was  appointed  one  of  the  managers  and 
was,  thenceforward,  incessantly  engaged  in  bene- 
volent operations.  We  first  find  her  in  the  more 
conspicuous  “ walks  of  usefulness,55  in  the  severe  win- 
ter of  1818  and  519.  There  being,  at  that  time,  no 
public  fund  for  meeting  the  wants  of  the  poor,  she 
made  arrangements  with  her  nearest  neighbor  — her- 
self a kind-hearted,  humane  woman  — to  prepare  soup 
three  times  a week  for  the  destitute  in  the  ninth 
ward.  She  had  previously  visited  that  part  of  the 
city  and  made  herself  acquainted  with  many  suf- 
fering individuals.  All  who  applied  for  sou]),  if  not 
known,  she  accompanied  to  their  homes,  and  pre- 
sented them  with  tickets  entitling  them  to  further 
supplies,  if  found  to  be  true  objects  of  charity. 
Many,  it  is  thought,  were  saved  from  starvation  by 
her  humane  exertions.  “ These,  and  similar  deeds 
of  mercy,  tended  to  enlarge  her  heart:  while  she 
watered  others,  she  was  watered  also  herself,  and 
felt  continually  the  truth  of  the  assertion,  ‘ It  is  more 
blessed  to  give  than  to  receive.5  55  * 

Notwithstanding  her  arduous,  public  duties,  Mrs. 
Prior  managed  her  household  affairs  with  care,  neat 
ness  and  regularity.  It  has  been  appropiately  said 
of  her  that  she  had  u a place  for  every  thing  and 


Walks  of  Usefulness ; or,  Reminiscences  of  Margaret  Prior,  p.  17 


390 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


every  thing  in  its  place.55  The  time  that  some  spend 
in  fashionable  and  heartless  calls,  she  devoted  to  in- 
dustry and  humanity.  By  rising  early,  working 
late,  observing  the  strictest  rules  of  economy,  and 
subjecting  herself,  at  times,  to  self-denial,  she  was 
able  to  visit  the  suffering,  and  to  make  daily  ap 
propriations  from  her  own  table  for  their  relief. 

Numerous  instances  of  her  self-denial  have  beeu 
related,  and  one  of  them  we  will  repeat.  She  usually 
obtained  assistance  to  do  her  washing,  and  limited 
herself  to  a dollar  a week  to  meet  that  expense. 
Sometimes  the  amount  she  wished  to  devote  to  some 
particular  object  fell  short,  and  in  such  instances  she 
would  do  the  washing  herself,  and  thereby  save  the 
dollar.  She  felt,  in  such  cases,  as  has  been  remarked, 
that  u the  personal  effort  was  made  a blessing  to 
herself  of  greater  value  than  the  sum  saved.55 

In  the  year  1822,  Mrs.  Prior  visited  the  families 
on  Bowery  hill,  where  she  had  resided  the  three 
previous  years;  thoroughly  acquainted  herself  with 
their  moral  condition  and  necessities;  established  a 
school  for  poor  children;  commenced  her  long-con- 
tinued weekly  visits  for  conversation  and  prayer  with 
the  pupils,  and  secured  the  sympathies  and  pecuniary 
assistance  of  several  Christians  to  aid  in  supporting 
the  school  from  year  to  year.  She  herself  contributed 
one  hundred  dollars  annually  for  its  maintenance. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  September,  1829,  this  good 
woman  again  became  a widow.  Previous  to  this 
date  she  had  lost  her  seventh  child,  and  an  adopted 
one.  She  had  also  taken  a second  motherless  child 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


391 


into  her  family.  About  the  year  her  second  husband 
died,  Bowery  hill  was  dug  awaj,and  she  changed 
her  residence. 

When,  in  the  early  part  of  1833,  the  Moral  Be- 
foi  m society  was  organized,  she  became  a prominent 
member  of  its  board  of  managers,  and,  four  years 
afterwards,  commenced,  under  its  patronage,  her 
memorable  labors  as  a city  missionary.  These  she 
continued  till  1842,  in  which  year,  on  the  seventh  of 
April,  her  earthly  work  was  finished. 

Two  or  three  incidents  connected  with  her  labors  as 
a missionary,  will  show,  in  part,  at  least,  the  charactei 
of  her  work  and  the  philanthropic  spirit  by  which 
she  was  ever  actuated. 

As  she  was  once  passing  through  the  streets,  she 
was  accosted  by  a lady  who  inquired  her  name,  and 
wished  to  know  if  she  did  not  belong  to  the  society 
which  had  opened  a register  of  direction  for  the 
accommodation  of  respectable  females.  Ascertaining 
that  she  was  not  mistaken  in  the  person,  the  stranger 
told  Mrs.  Prior  that  two  female  acquaintances  of  hers 
were  out  of  work,  had  become  reduced  to  want,  and 
were  so  wretched  as  to  threaten  to  drown  themselves, 
unless  they  soon  found  a situation.  They  had  been 
working  for  houses  connected  with  the  southern  trad  £ 
which  had  failed,  and  thus  thrown  them  out  of 
employment.  Learning  their  residence,  Mrs.  Prior 
visited  them  immediately ; told  them  of  the  enormity 
of  the  crime  they  had  threatened  to  commit ; that 
she  would  try  to  secure  work  for  them,  and  that  il 
was  their  duty  to  seek  the  grace  of  God  to  sustain 


392 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


them  in  such  trying  seasons.  The  next  day  she  found 
situations  for  them  in  pious  families,  and  thus,  while 
she  probably  saved  them  from  committing  suicide, 
she  was,  perhaps,  the  instrument,  in  the  hands  of 
God,  of  saving  them  from  infamy  and  eternal  ruin. 

Passing  through  the  suburbs  of  the  city  one  day, 
her  attention  was  arrested  by  the  chime  of  youthful 
voices.  Seeing  that  the  music  proceeded  from  some 
little  beggar-girls,  who  were  sitting  in  the  sun  beside 
the  fence  and  singing  a Sabbath  school  hymn,  she 
inquired  of  them  what  they  were  doing,  when  the 
following  dialogue  occurred  : u¥e  were  cold,  ma’am, 
and  are  getting  warm  in  the  sun.”  “ Where  do  you 
live?”  “In  Twentieth  street,  ma’am.”  “ Why  have 
you  come  so  far  away  from  your  homes  ? ” “ To  get 

some  food  and  some  things  to  make  a fire.”  “ Why 
were  you  singing  ? ” “ To  praise  God  : we  go  to  the 

Sunday  school,  and  our  teacher  says  if  we  are  good 
children  God  will  never  let  us  want.”  Pleased  with 
the  modest  and  artless  answers  to  her  questions,  the 
good  woman  took  them  across  the  street,  procured 
each  of  them  a loaf  of  bread,  gave  them  some  pious 
counsel,  and  left  them  with  smiles  on  their  faces  and 
gratitude  in  their  hearts. 

Mrs.  Prior  frequently  visited  the  city  prison,  and 
on  occasion  * went  to  Sing  Sing.  She  made  a record 
of  her  visit  to  the  latter  place,  from  which  we  make 
an  extract  : “In  visiting  the  female  convicts  at  their 


June,  1840. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


393 


cells  on  Sabbath  morning,  after  Sabbath  school,  which, 
under  the  customary  regulations,  we  were  permitted 
to  do,  we  found  nearly  all  employed  in  reading  their 
Bibles.  We  conversed  with  them  respecting  the 
welfare  of  their  souls,  and  as  we  knelt  with  them  at 
the  throne  of  grace,  they  on  one  side  of  the  grated 
door  and  we  on  the  other,  we  felt  that  He  who 
healed  a Mary  Magdalene,  is  still  the  same  compas 
sionate  Saviour,  and  our  faith,  we  trust,  apprehended 
him  as  the  atoning  sacrifice,  who  bore  our  sins  in  his 
own  body  on  the  tree,  and  opened  a way  for  the  sal- 
vation of  even  the  chief  of  sinners.55 

Being  on  an  errand  of  mercy  in  G street 

one  day,  she  stepped  into  a house  of  infamy  to  leave 
a certain  tract.  As  soon  as  she  had  entered  and 
made  known  her  mission,  the  door  was  closed  and 
locked  by  one  of  the  female  inmates,  who  told  her 
that  she  wras  their  prisoner.  uFor  a moment,55  writes 
Mrs.  Prior,  in  her  journal,  “ my  heart  was  tremulous; 
I said  nothing  till  the  risings  of  fear  wTere  quelled, 
and  then  replied  pleasantly,  ‘Well,  if  Pm  a prisoner, 
I shall  pray  here,  and  would  sing  praises  to  God  if  1 
wrere  not  so  hoarse.  Yes,  bless  the  Lord ! his  pres- 
ence can  make  me  happy  here  or  any  where,  and  you 
can  have  no  power  to  harm  me  unless  he  gives  it. 
This  is  a dreadful  place,  to  be  sure,  but  it  is  not  so 
bad  as  hell ; for  there,  there  is  no  hope.  The  smoke 
of  their  torment  ascendeth  up  for  ever  and  ever ! 
What  a mercy  that  we  are  not  all  there ! what  com- 
passion in  the  blessed  Jesus  that  he  spares  us,  when 
our  sins  are  every  day  so  great.5  I talked  to  them  in 


394 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


this  manner  till  they  were  glad  to  open  the  door  as  a 
signal  for  my  release.” 

Such  were  the  doings,  such  was  the  character,  of 
Margaret  Prior.  We  see  her  organizing  week-day 
and  Sabbath  schools,  industrial  associations  and 
temperance  societies  ; establishing  soup  houses  and 
orphan  asylums ; visiting  the  sick,  the  poor,,  the 
idle,  the  culprit,  the  outcast ; pointing  the  dying  to 
a risen  Saviour,  leading  the  destitute  by  the  hand 
to  the  place  of  relief,  the  idle  to  houses  of  indus- 
try, and  warning  the  outlaw  and  the  corrupt  of  the 
certain  and  terrible  doom  that  would  attend  persis- 
tency in  their  downward  course.  With  the  sweetness, 
gentleness,  simplicity,  and  delicacy,  so  becoming  in 
woman  under  all  circumstances,  were  blended  in  her 
character,  energy  that  was  unconquerable,  courage 
that  danger  could  not  blench,  and  firmness  that 
human  power  could  not  bend.  The  contemplation  of 
such  a character  is  superficial,  if  it  does  not  prompt 
benevolent  feelings,  re-affirm  virtuous  resolutions,  and 
revive  and  strengthen  drooping  piety. 


NOBLE  ACTS  OF  KINDNESS, 


We  are  to  relieve  the  distressed,  to  put  the  wanderer  in  the  way, 
and  divide  our  bread  with  the  hungry. — Seneca. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Andros,  of  Berkley,  Massachu- 
setts, was  a firm  patriot  and  a keen  sufferer  in  the 
strife  for  freedom.  He  was  captured  whilst  on  board 
a privateer,  and  transferred  to  the  Jersey  prison  ship. 
In  the  autumn  of  1781,  he  escaped  ; and,  skulking 
through  the  east  end  of  Long  Island,  received  at 
the  hands  of  females  such  marks  of  pity  and  kind- 
ness as  were  thought  worthy  of  noting  in  his  journal. 
The  following  are  extracts  : 

“I  came  to  a respectable  dwelling-house  and  en- 
tered it.  Among  the  inmates  were  a decent  woman 
and  a tailor.  To  the  woman  I expressed  my  want 
of  something  to  nourish  my  feeble  frame,  telling  her 
if  she  would  give  me  a morsel,  it  would  be  a mere 
act  of  charity.  She  made  no  objection,  asked  no 
questions,  but  promptly  furnished  me  with  the  dish 
of  light  food  I desired.  Expressing  my  obligations 
to  her,  I rose  to  depart.  But  going  round  through 
another  room,  she  met  me  in  the  front  entry,  placed 
a hat  on  my  head,  put  an  apple  pie  in  my  hand,  and 


396 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


said,  c yon  will  want  this  before  yon  get  through  the 
woods.5  I opened  my  mouth  to  give  vent  to  the 
grateful  feelings  with  which  my  lieart  was  filled. 
But  she  would  not  tarry  to  hear  a wxrd,  and  instantly 
vanished.  The  mystery  of  her  conduct  I suppose 
was  this : she  was  satisfied  that  I had  escaped  from 
prison,  and  if  she  granted  me  any  succor,  knowing 
me  to  be  such,  it  might  cost  her  family  the  confisca- 
tion of  their  estate.  She  did  not  therefore  wish  to 
ask  me  any  questions  or  hear  me  explain  who  I wslq 
in  the  hearing  of  the  tailor,  who  might  turn  informer. 
This  mark  of  kindness  .was  more  than  I could  well 
bear,  and  as  I went  on  the  tears  flowed  copiously ! 
The  recollection  of  her  humanity  and  pity  revives 
in  my  breast  even  now  the  same  feeling  of  gratitude. 

“ Some  time  after,  in  Suffolk  county,  being  repulsed 
from  one  dwelling,  I entered  another,  and  informed 
the  mistress  of  the  house  of  my  wants.  By  the 
cheerfulness  and  good-nature  depicted  in  her  coun- 
tenance and  first  movements,  I knew  my  suit  was 
granted,  and  I had  nothing  more  to  say  than  to 
apprise  her  L was  penniless.  In  a few  moments  she 
placed  on  the  table  a bowl  of  bread  and  milk,  a dried 
bluefish  roasted,  and  a mug  of  cider,  and  said,  c sit 
down  and  eat.5 

“ It  was  now  growing  dark,  so  I went  but  a short 
distance  further,  entered  a house,  and  begged  the 
privilege  of  lodging  by  the  fire.  My  request  was 
granted.  There  was  no  one  in  the  house  but  the 
man  and  his  wife.  They  appeared  to  be  cordial 
friends  to  each  other— it  was  indeed  one  of  the  few 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


397- 


happy  matches.  Before  it  became  late  in  the  eve- 
ning the  man  took  his  Bible  and  read  a chapter.  lie 
then  arose  and  offered  np  his  grateful  acknowledg- 
ments and  supplications  to  God  through  the  Mediator. 
I now  began  to  think  I had  got  into  a safe  and 
hospitable  retreat.  They  had  before  made  many 
inquiries  such  as  indicated  that  they  felt  tenderly  and 
took  an  interest  in  my  welfare.  I now  confessed  my 
situation  to  them.  All  was  silence.  It  took  some 
time  to  recover  themselves  from  a flood  of  tears. 
At  last  the  kind  woman  said,  ‘Let  us  go  and  bake 
his  clothes.5  No  sooner  said  than  the  man  seized  a 
brand  of  fire  and  threw  it  into  the  oven.  The 

woman  provided  a clean  suit  of  clothes  to  supply  the 
place  of  mine  till  they  had  purified  them  by  fire. 
The  work  done,  a clean  bed  was  laid  down  on  which 
I was  to  rest,  and  rest  I did  as  in  a new  world  ; for 
I had  got  rid  of  a swarm  of  cannibals  who  were 
eating  me  up  alive!  In  the  morning  I took  my 
leave  of  this  dear  family  with  a gratitude  that  for 
fifty  years  has  suffered  no  abatement.55  * 

* Mr.  Andros  thus  describes  the  old  Jersey : “ Her  dark  and  filthy 
exterior  corresponded  with  the  death  and  despair  reigning  within.  It 
is  supposed  that  eleven  thousand  American  seamen  perished  in  her. 
None  came  to  relieve  their  woes.  Once  or  twice,  by  order  of  a stranger 
on  the  quarter-deck,  a bag  of  apples  was  hurled  promiscuously  into  the 
midst  of  hundreds  of  prisoners,  crowded  as  thick  as  they  could  stand 
— and  life  and  limbs  were  endangered  in  the  struggle.  The  prisoners 
were  secured  between  the  decks  by  iron  gratings  ; and  when  the  ship 
was  to  be  cleared  of  water,  an  armed  guard  forced  them  up  to  the 
winches,  amid  a roar  of  execrations  and  reproaches — the  dim  light 
adding  to  the  horrors  of  the  scene.  Thousands  died  whose  names  have 
never  been  known  ; perishing  when  no  eye  could  witness  their  forti- 
tude, nor  praise  their  devotion  to  their  country/ * 


THE  WIFE  OF  DR.  RAMSAY. 


Unrivalled  as  thy  merit,  be  thy  fame. 

Tickell. 


Few  women  of  modern  times  have  more  charm- 
ingly exhibited  u the  beauties  of  holiness  ” than  Mar- 
tha Laurens  Ramsay,  the  wife  of  the  historian  of 
South  Carolina.  In  his  interesting  series  of  lectures 
on  the  Christian  graces,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Williams  very 
happily  refers  to  her  habit  of  prayer,  to  illustrate  the 
spirit  of  brotherly  kindness  as  shown  in  the  mutual 
intercession  of  brethren  in  the  same  church.  u It  is 
animating,”  he  writes,  “ and  yet,  as  contrasted  with 
our  present  remissness,  humiliating,  to  read  how  Bax- 
ter and  his  people  held  days  of  fasting  and  prayer 
for  each  other  ; or  to  turn  to  the  pages  which  describe 
a Christian  matron  of  the  South,  the  wife  of  Ramsay 
aud  the  daughter  of  Henry  Laurens,  President  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  praying  over  a list  of  her  fel- 
low-members, name  by  name,  and  remembering,  to 
the  best  of  her  knowledge,  the  cares  and  wants  of 
each  before  the  throne  of  grace.* 


Religious  Progress,  pp.  200-1. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


399 


Prior  to  her  marriage,  and  whilst  residing  in  France 
with  her  father,  she  received  from  him  the  handsome 
present  of  five  hundred  guineas.  Appropriating  a 
very  small  portion  of  this  sum  to  her  own  use,  with 
the  bulk  she  purchased  one  hundred  French  Testa- 
ments— all  to  be  found  in  the  market — and  distri- 
buted them  amongst  the  destitute  in  Yigan  and  its 
vicinity,  and  organized  a school  there  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  youth,  constituting  a fund  sufficient  to  oblite 
rate  its  annual  charges. 

Mrs.  Ramsay  was  remarkably  economical  of  time, 
rising  early  and  devoting  every  hour  to  some  useful 
service;  and  of  money,  never  indulging  herself  in 
any  needless  expenditure.  This  principle  of  economy 
was  observed  even  at  her  funeral.  She  directed  that 
it  should  be  at  her  own  private  house ; and  that  her 
coffin  should  be  plain  and  without  a plate.  She  died 
on  the  tenth  of  June,  1811. 


COURAGE  AND  PRESENCE  OF  MIND  OF 
MARGARET  SCHUYLER. 


— Courage  mounteth  with  occasion. 

Shakspeare. 

In  August,  1781,  when  the  abduction  of  Geneial 
Schuyler  from  his  house  in  the  suburbs  of  Albany, 
was  projected,  and  John  Waltermeyer,  the  bold  par- 
tizan  of  Joseph  Bettys,  led  a motley  and  blood-thirsty 
band — tories,  Canadians  and  Indians — in  the  daring 
undertaking,  a daughter  of  the  General  acted  so 
courageous  and  wise  a part  as  to  justify  us  in  giving 
on  outline  sketch  of  the  unsuccessful  enterprise. 

As  the  family  sat  in  an  open  door,  in  the  evening 
of  a very  sultry  day,  receiving  information  that  a 
stranger  was  waiting  at  the  back  gate  to  see  him, 
General  Schuyler  mistrusted,  at  once,  that  something 
was  wrong;  and,  instead  of  repairing  to  the  gate, 
he  instantly  closed  and  fastened  the  doors,  and  ran 
to  his  bed  chamber  for  his  arms.  He  then  hurried 
his  family  into  the  third  story,  where  he  immediately 
discharged  a pistol  to  arouse  the  careless  guards, 
and  afterwards  others,  to  alarm,  if  possible,  the  in- 
habitants of  the  city.  In  hurrying  up  stairs,  his  wife 


OF  AMEKICAN  WOMEN. 


401 


overlooked  her  infant,  which  was  asleep  in  the  cradle ; 
and  she  was  about  to  descend,  when  the  General 
warned  her  of  the  danger,  and  held  her  back.  See- 
ing her  mother’s  agony,  a daughter  named  Margaret, 
rushed  down  stairs  into  the  nursery,  caught  the 
child,  and  wTas  about  ascending,  when  a tomahawk 
flew  past  her,  simply  grazing  her  dress  and  slightly 
injuring  it.  Hurrying  up  a private  stairway,  she 
was  met  by  Waltermeyer,  who  roughly  exclaimed, 
“ Wench  ! where  is  your  master?”  With  remarkable 
presence  of  mind,  she  answered,  “ Gone  to  alarm  the 
town.”  Fearing  that  such  might  be  the  case,  Walter- 
meyer called  his  pilfering  men,  who  were  bagging 
plate  in  the  dining  hall,  and  began  a consultation. 
Meanwhile  the  General  was  also  thinking,  and  devi- 
sing a stratagem  by  which  to  frighten  away  the 
kidnappers.  He  soon  threw  up  a window,  and,  in 
the  voice  of  an  experienced  commander,  cried  out, 
“ Come  on,  my  brave  fellows  ; surround  the  house 
and  secure  the  villains  who  are  plundering.”  As  he 
anticipated,  the  gang,  hearing  these  words,  snapped 
the  thread  of  their  consultation,  and  tested  the  nim- 
bleness of  their  feet.  The  reports  of  the  General’s 
arms  had  alarmed  the  people  of  the  city,  and  they 
came  to  the  rescue  just  in  season  to  be  unneeded. 


NOBLE  TREATMENT  OF  ENEMIES. 


True  religion 

Is  always  mild,  propitious  and  humble, 

Plays  not  the  tyrant,  plants  no  faith  in  blood ; 

Nor  bears  destruction  on  her  chariot  wheels ; 

Buts  stoops  to  polish,  succor,  and  redress, 

And  builds  her  grandeur  on  the  public  good. 

Miller’s  Mahomet. 

Among  the  early  converts  to  Christianity  in  the 
Cherokee  tribe,  were  a few  women,  who  formed  them- 
selves into  a society  for  propagating  the  Gospel. 
They  felt  its  expanding  power,  and,  though  poor, 
were  anxious  to  do  something  for  those  who  were  not 
sharing  in  the  same  blessing.  The  proceeds  of  their 
first  year’s  efforts,  were  about  ten  dollars  ; and  while 
deliberating  on  the  manner  of  its  appropriation,  one 
of  the  members  suggested  that  it  be  devoted  to  the 
promotion  of  religion  among  the  Osages,  giving  as 
a reason  that  they  were  the  greatest  enemies  of 
the  Cherokees,  and  that  the  Bible  teaches  Christians 
to  do  good  to  such. 


HUMANITY  REWARDED. 


- — I should  some  kindness  show  them. 

Shakspeare. 

Among  the  early  settlements  of  New  Hampshire, 
were  several  on  the  Piscataqua  river,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  present  town  of  Dover.  For  awhile  the 
aborigines  and  whites  were  on  amicable  terms,  and 
the  former  not  unfrequently  paid  the  latter  a friendly 
visit.  On  one  of  those  occasions,  a pappoos  was 
suddenly  seized  with  illness,  and  its  mother  was 
obliged  to  remain  several  days.  She  found  shelter 
and  accommodations  with  a widow,  who  received  her 
cordially,  and  nursed  the  feeble  infant  as  her  own. 
Such  kindness  would  not  be  forgotten,  even  by 
savages ; and  when,  after  the  lapse  of  years,  the  bow 
was  bent  and  the  hatchet  raised  against  the  settle- 
ment where  the  widow  resided,  the  Indians  placed  a 
strong  guard  around  her  house ; and,  though  the 
butchery  was  terrible,  she  and  her  family  were  un- 
harmed. 


MARGARET  WINTIIROI 


— — When  meet  now 
Such  pairs,  in  love  and  honor  joined  ? 

Milton. 

Governor  Winthrop,  the  father  of  the  Massach 
setts’  colony,  married  Margaret,  the  daughter  of  Sii 
John  Tindal,  in  April,  1618.  She  was  his  third  wife, 
and  a woman  of  rare  qualities  both  of  mind  and 
heart.  Previous  to  their  emigration  to  New  England, 
it  was  not  an  uncommon  occurrence  for  them  to  be 
separated,  and  their  correspondence  on  such  occasions 
savors  of  the  purest  affection.  Who  does  not  see 
the  image  of  a devoted  wife  and  an  exalted  spirit  in 
the  following  letter,  written  about  the  year  1627 : 

“ My  most  sweet  Husband, — How  dearly  welcome 
thy  kind  letter  was  to  me,  I am  not  able  to  express. 
The  sweetness  of  it  did  much  refresh  me.  What  can 
be  more  pleasing  to  a wife,  than  to  hear  of  the  wel- 
fare of  her  best  beloved,  and  how  he  is  pleased  with 
her  poor  endeavors  ! I blush  to  hear  myself  com- 
mended, knowing  my  own  wants.  But  it  is  your  love 
that  conceives  the  best,  and  makes  all  things  seem 
better  than  they  are.  I wish  that  I may  be  always 
pleasing  to  thee,  and  that  those  comforts  we  have  in 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN, 


405 


each  other  may  be  daily  increased,  as  far  as  they 
may  be  pleasing  to  God.  I will  use  that  speech  to 
thee,  that  Abigail  did  to  David  : c I will  be  a servant 
fo  wash  the  feet  of  my  lord.’  I will  do  any  service 
wherein  I may  please  my  good  husband.  I confess 
I cannot  do  enough  for  thee ; but  thou  art  pleased  to 
accept  the  will  for  the  deed,  and  rest  contented. 

“ I have  many  reasons  to  make  me  love  thee, 
whereof  I will  name  two  : first,  because  thou  lovest 
God ; and  secondly,  because  thou  lovest  me.  If 
these  two  were  wanting,  all  the  rest  would  be 
eclipsed.  But  I must  leave  this  discourse,  and  go 
about  my  household  affairs.  I am  a bad  housewife 
to  be  so  long  from  them  ; but  I must  needs  borrow  a 
little  time  to  talk  with  thee,  my  sweet  heart.  I hope 
thy  business  draws  to  an  end.  It  will  be  but  two  or 
three  weeks  before  I see  thee,  though  they  be  long 
ones.  God  will  bring  us  together  in  his  good  time  ; 
for  which  I shall  pray. 

Farewell,  my  good  husband  ; the  Lord  keep  thee. 

Your  obedient  wife, 

Margaret  Winthrop.” 

Below  is  another  letter  from  the  pen  of  this  good 
woman,  written  after  her  husband  had  decided  to 
come  to  Massachusetts,  and  just  before  his  embarka- 
tion : 

“ My  most  dear  Husband, — I should  not  now 
omit  any  opportunity  of  writing  to  thee,  considering  I 
shall  not  long  have  thee  to  write  unto.  But,  by  reason 
of  my  unfitness  at  this  time,  I must  entreat  thee  to 
accept  of  a few  lines  from  me,  and  not  impute  it  to 


406 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


any  want  of  love,  or  neglect  of  duty  to  thee,  to  wliom 
I owe  more  than  I ever  shall  be  able  to  express. 

“ My  request  now  shall  be  to  the  Lord  to  prosper 
thee  in  thy  voyage,  and  enable  thee  and  fit  thee  for 
it,  and  give  all  graces  and  gifts  for  such  employments 
as  he  shall  call  thee  to.  I trust  God  will  once  more 
bring  us  together  before  you  go,  that  we  may  see 
each  other  with  gladness,  and  take  a solemn  leave, 
till  we,  through  the  goodness  of  our  God,  shall  meet 
in  New  England,  which  will  be  a joyful  day  to  us. 
With  my  best  wishes  to  God  for  thy  health  and 
welfare,  I take  my  leave  and  rest,  thy  faithful,  obe- 
dient wife,  Margaret  Winthrop.”* 

Governor  Winthrop  landed  on  these  shores  in 
June,  1630,  and  bis  wife  followed  him  in  about  a 
year.  She  lived  till  June,  1647,  and  was  perhaps  as 


* The  following  extract  from  a letter  written  by  the  Governor  ir 
March,  1629,  shows  that  he  was  not  unconscious  of  the  excellence  of 
the  gift  he  possessed  in  his  “ yokefellow.”  Addressing  her  as  “ Mixa 
own  DEAa  Heart,”  he  proceeds  : 

" I must  confess  thou  hast  overcome  me  with  thy  exceeding  great 
love,  and  those  abundant  expressions  of  it  in  thy  sweet  letters,  which 
savor  of  more  than  an  ordinary  spirit  of  love  and  piety.  Blessed  be 
the  Lord  our  God,  that  gives  strength  and  comfort  to  thee  to  undergo 
this  great  trial,  which,  I must  confess,  would  be  too  heavy  for  thee, 
if  the  Lord  did  not  put  under  his  hand  in  so  gracious  a measure.  Lei 
this  experience  of  his  faithfulness  to  thee  in  this  first  trial,  be  a ground 
to  establish  thy  heart  to  believe  and  expect  his  help  in  all  that  may 
follow.  It  grieveth  me  much,  that  I want  time  and  freedom  of  mind 
to  discourse  with  thee,  my  faithful  yokefellow,  in  those  things  which 
thy  sweet  letters  offer  me  so  plentiful  occasion  for.  I beseech  the 
Lord,  I may  have  liberty  to  supply  it,  ere  I depart ; for  I cannot  thus 
leave  thee.” 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


407 


useful  in  her  more  private,  as  her  husband  in  his 
public  and  highly  honorable,  sphere.  “A  woman 
of  singular  virtue,  prudence,  modesty  and  piety ; 51 
though  dignified,  she  was  condescending;  and  know- 
ing her  place,  she  kept,  and  filled,  and  honored  it. 
With  undimmed  and  steady  lustre,  she  shone  for 
sixteen  years  amid  the  shadows  of  night  that  over- 
hung and  threatened  the  infant  colony. 


A PIONEER  SETTLER’S  ADVENTURE. 


■Screw  your  courage  up  to  the  sticking  place. 


And  we  *11  not  fail. 


Shakspeark. 


The  first  settler  in  Hollis,  New  Hampshire,  was 
Captain  Peter  Powers.  He  removed  thither  in  1731. 
II is  nearest  neighbor,  for  a time,  was  ten  miles  dis- 
tant; and  in  order  to  exchange  courtesies  it  was  ne- 
cessary for  the  families  to  cross  the  Nashua  river. 
It  had  but  one  convenient  and  safe  fording  place  in 
that  vicinity,  and  that  one  only  when  the  river  was 
low. 

Having  occasion,  on  a pleasant  August  morning,  to 
visit  her  neighbor,  Mrs.  Powers  mounted  a Narra- 
ganset,  hastened  away,  and  reached  the  place  of  des- 
tination long  before  noon.  Early  in  the  after  part 
of  the  day  a fearful  thunderstorm  came  up,  and  con- 
tinued for  several  hours.  Just  at  sunset  the  clouds 
began  to  break  away,  and  Mrs.  Powers  immediately 
started  on  her  return.  She  did  not  reach  the  river 
until  some  time  after  dark;  and  coining  to  the  ford, 
she  found  the  bank  full  and  the  water  — as  a narrator 
of  the  incident  has  it — u pressing  on  it  with  great 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


409 


rapidity.”  Added  to  this  alarming  ciicumstance,  the 
wind  had  shifted  and  rolled  the  clouds  up  the  sky 
again,  so  that  the  rain  was  descending  in  torrents,  and 
drowning  the  threatening  voice  of  the  waves.  Trust- 
ing to  the  experienced  animal  to  keep  the  ford,  and 
giving  a slack  rein,  without  realizing  the  danger,  the 
courageous  woman  plunged  into  the  black  stream. 
The  steed  almost  instantly  lost  its  foothold,  and  “ roll- 
ing in  the  waves  at  a full  swim,”  made  for  the  opposite 
shore.  Missing  the  ford,  and  striking  a forefoot  on  a 
rock  in  the  bed  of  the  stream,  the  animal  was  raised 
momentarily  half  way  out  of  the  water.  Then  plung- 
ing forward,  it  sank  so  deep  that  Mrs.  Powers  was 
raised  from  the  pommel ; but  seizing  the  horse’s  mane 
as  it  rose,  she  held  her  grasp  till  they  were  safely  on 
shore.  The  faithful  animal  soon  found  the  right  track, 
and  in  a brief  hour  Mrs.  Powers  was  under  the  shelter 
of  her  cabin. 


MRS.  MoKENNY. 


More  can  I bear  than  you  dare  execute. 

Shakspeare. 

“Not  a great  way  from  Steel’s  and  Taylor’s  forts 
was  a settlement  consisting  of  a few  families,  among 
which  were  those  of  William  McKenny  and  his 
brother  James.  These  lived  near  Fishing  creek. 
In  the  summer  of  1761,  sixteen  Indians,  with  some 
squaws  of  the  Cherokee  tribe,  took  up  their  abode 
for  several  weeks  near  what  is  called  Simpson’s 
shoals,  for  the  purpose  of  hunting  and  fishing  during 
the  hot  months.  In  August,  the  two  McKennys 
being  absent  on  a journey  to  Camden,  William’s 
wife,  Barbara,  was  left  alone  with  several  young 
children.  One  day  she  saw  the  Indian  women  run- 
ning towards  her  house  in  great  haste,  followed  by 
the  men.  She  had  no  time  to  offer  resistance;  the 
squaws  seized  her  and  the  children,  pulled  them 
into  the  house,  and  shoved  tnem  behind  the  door, 
where  they  immediately  placed  themselves  on  guard, 
pushing  back  the  Indians  as  fast  as  they  tried  to 
force  their  way  in,  and  uttering  the  most  fearful  out- 
cries. Mrs.  McKenny  concluded  it  was  their  intern 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


411 


tion  to  kill  her,  and  expected  her  fate  every  mo- 
ment. The  assistance  rendered  by  the  squaws, 
whether  given  out  of  compassion  for  a lonely  mother, 
or  in  return  for  kindness  shown  them,  — proved 
effectual  for  her  protection  until  the  arrival  of  one 
of  the  chiefs,  who  drew  his  long  knife  and  drove 
off  the  savages.  The  mother,  apprehending  another 
attack,  went  to  some  of  her  neighbors  and  entreated 
them  to  come  and  stay  with  her.  Robert  Brown 
and  Joanna  his  wife,  Sarah  Ferguson,  her  daughter 
Sarah  and  two  sons,  and  a young  man  named  Michael 
Melbury,  came,  in  compliance  with  her  request,  and 
took  up  their  quarters  in  the  house.  The  next  morn- 
ing Mrs.  McKenny  ventured  out  alone  to  milk  her 
cows.  It  had  been  her  practice  heretofore  to  take 
some  of  the  children  with  her,  and  she  could  not 
explain  why  she  went  alone  this  time,  though  she 
was  not  free  from  apprehension ; it  seemed  to  be  so 
by  a special  ordering  of  Providence.  While  she 
was  milking,  the  Indians  crept  towards  her  on  their 
hands  and  knees;  she  heard  not  their  approach, 
nor  knew  any  thing  till  they  seized  her.  Sensible 
at  once  of  all  the  horroi  of  her  situation,  she  made 
no  effort  to  escape,  but  promised  to  go  quietly  with 
them.  They  then  set  off  towards  the  house,  holding 
her  fast  by  the  arm.  She  had  the  presence  of  mind 
to  walk  as  far  off  as  possible  from  the  Indian  who 
held  her,  expecting  Melbury  to  fire  as  they  ap- 
proached her  dwelling.  As  they  came  up,  he  fired, 
wounding  the  one  who  held  Mrs.  McKenny ; she 
broke  from  his  hold  and  ran,  and  another  Indian 


412 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


pursued  and  seized  lier.  At  this  moment  she  was 
just  at  her  own  door,  which  John  Ferguson  impru- 
dently opening  that  she  might  enter,  the  Indians 
without  shot  him  dead  as  he  presented  himself. 
His  mother  ran  to  him  and  received  another  shot 
in  her  thigh,  of  which  she  died  in  a few  days.  Mel- 
bury,  who  saw  that  all  their  lives  depended  on 
prompt  action,  dragged  them  from  the  door,  fastened 
it,  and  repairing  to  the  loft,  prepared  for  a vigorous 
defence.  There  were  in  all  five  guns ; Sarah  Fergu- 
son loaded  for  him,  while  he  kept  up  a continual 
fire,  aiming  at  the  Indians  wherever  one  could  be 
seen.  Determined  to  effect  their  object  of  forcing 
an  entrance,  some  of  the  savages  came  very  near 
the  house,  keeping  under  cover  of  an  outhouse  in 
which  Brown  and  his  wife  had  taken  refuge,  not 
being  able,  on  the  alarm,  to  get  into  the  house.  They 
had  crept  into  a corner  and  were  crouched  there 
close  to  the  boarding.  One  of  the  Indians,  coming 
up,  leaned  against  the  outside,  separated  from  them 
only  by  a few  boards,  the  crevices  between  which 
probably  enabled  them  to  see  him.  Mrs.  Brown 
proposed  to  take  a sword  that  lay  by  them  and  run 
the  savage  through  the  body,  but  her  husband  re- 
fused; he  expected  death,  he  said,  every  moment, 
and  did  not  wish  to  go  out  of  the  world  having  his 
hands  crimsoned  with  the  blood  of  any  fellow  crea- 
ture. 4 Let  me  die  in  peace,5  wTere  his  words,  4 with 
all  the  world.5  Joanna,  though  in  the  same  peril, 
could  not  respond  to  the  charitable  feeling.  4 If  I 
am  to  die,5  she  said,  4 1 should  like  first  to  send 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


413 


some  of  the  redskins  on  the  journey.  But  we  are 
not  so  sure  we  have  to  die;  don’t  yon  hear  the 
crack  of  Melbury’s  rifle?  He  holds  the  house.  1 
warrant  you  that  redskin,  looked  awfully  scared  as 
he  leaned  against  the  corner  here.  We  could  have 
done  it  in  a moment.’ 

“ Mrs.  McKenny,  meanwhile,  having  failed  to  get 
into  her  house,  had  been  again  seized  by  the  Indians, 
and,  desperately  regardless  of  her  own  safety,  was 
doing  all  in  her  power  to  help  her  besieged  friends. 
She  would  knock  the  priming  out  of  the  guns  carried 
by  the  savages,  and  when  they  presented  them  to 
fire,  would  throw  them  up,  so  that  the  discharge 
might  prove  harmless.  She  was  often  heard  to  say, 
afterwards,  that  all  fear  had  left  her,  and  she  thought 
only  of  those  within  the  building,  for  she  expected 
for  herself  neither  deliverance  nor  mercy.  Melbury 
continued  to  fire  whenever  one  of  the  enemy  ap- 
peared; they  kept  themselves,  however,  concealed, 
for  the  most  part,  behind  trees  or  *Ie  outhouse. 
Several  were  wounded  by  his  cool  and  veil-directed 
shots,  and  at  length,  tired  of  the  conte^  /«,  the  Indians 
retreated,  carrying  Mrs.  McKenny  with  them.  She 
now  resisted  with  all  her  strength,  prei  erring  instant 
death  to  the  more  terrible  fate  of  a captive  in  the 
hands  of  the  fierce  Cherokees.  Her  refusal  to  go 
forward  irritated  her  captors,  and  when  they  had 
dragged  her  about  half  a mile,  near  a rock  upon 
the  plantation  now  occupied  by  John  Cr'p,  she 
received  a second  blow  with  the  tomahawk  which 
stretched  her  insensible  upon  the  ground.  When 


414 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


after  some  time  consciousness  returned,  she  found 
herself  lying  upon  the  rock,  to  which  she  had  been 
dragged  from  the  spot  wffiere  she  fell.  She  was 
stripped  naked,  and  her  scalp  had  been  taken  off. 
By  degrees  the  knowledge  of  her  condition,  and 
the  desire  of  obtaining  help  came  upon  her.  She 
lifted  up  her  head,  and  looking  around,  saw  the 
wretches  who  had  so  cruelly  mangled  her,  pulling 
ears  of  corn  from  a field  near,  to  roast  for  their 
meal.  She  laid  her  head  quickly  down  again,  well 
knowing  that  if  they  saw  her  alive,  they  would  not 
be  slack  in  coming  to  finish  the  work  of  death. 
Thus  she  lay  motionless  till  all  was  silent,  and  she 
found  they  were  gone;  then,  with  great  pain  and 
difficulty,  she  dragged  herself  back  to  the  house. 
It  may  be  imagined  with  what  feelings  the  unfor- 
tunate woman  was  received  by  her  friends  and 
children,  and  how  she  met  the  bereaved  mother, 
wounded  unto  death,  who  had  suffered  for  her 
attempt  to  save  others.  One  of  the  blows  received 
by  Mrs.  McKenny  had  made  a deep  wound  in  her 

back;  the  others  were  upon  her  head 

“ The  wounds  in  Mrs.  McKenny’s  head  never 
healed  entirely;  but  continued  to  break  out  occa- 
sionally, so  that  the  blood  flowing  from  them 
stained  the  bed  at  night,  and  sometimes  fragments 
of  bone  came  off;  nevertheless,  she  lived  many 
years  afterwards  and  bore  several  children.  She 
was  at  the  time  with  child,  and  in  about  three 
months  gave  birth  to  a daughter  — Hannah,  after- 
wards married  to  John  Stedman  — and  living  in 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


415 


Tennessee  in  1827.  This  child  was  plainly  marked 
with  a tomahawk  and  drops  of  blood,  as  if  running 
down  the  side  of  her  face.  The  families  of  McKenny 
and  McFadden,  residing  on  Fishing  creek,  are  de- 
scended from  this  Barbara  McKenny;  but  most  of 
her  descendants  have  emigrated  to  the  West.  The 
above  mentioned  occurrence  is  narrated  in  a manu- 
script in  the  hand-writing  of  her  grandson,  Robert 
McFadden.”* 


* Women  of  the  Revolution,  voL  3. 


THE  FISHERMAN’S  HEROIC  WIFE 


Strong  affection 

Contends  with  all  things,  and  o’ercometh  all  things. 

Joanna  Baillib 

“ One  of  the  small  islands  in  Boston  bay  was 
inhabited  by  a single  poor  family.  The  father  was 
taken  suddenly  ill.  There  was  no  physician.  The 
wife,  on  whom  every  labor  for  the  household  de- 
volved, was  sleepless  in  care  and  tenderness  by  the 
bedside  of  her  suffering  husband.  Every  remedy  in 
her  power  to  procure  was  administered,  but  the 
disease  was  acute,  and  he  died. 

u Seven  young  children  mourned  around  the  life- 
less corpse.  They  were  the  sole  beings  upon  that 
desolate  spot.  Did  the  mother  indulge  the  grief  of 
her  spirit,  and  sit  down  in  despair  ? No  : she  entered 
upon  the  arduous  and  sacred  duties  of  her  station. 
She  felt  that  there  was  no  hand  to  assist  her  in  bury- 
ing her  dead.  Providing,  as  far  as  possible,  for  the 
comfort  of  her  little  ones,  she  put  her  babe  into  the 
arms  of  the  oldest,  and  charged  the  two  next  in  age 
to  watch  the  corpse  of  their  father.  She  unmoored 
her  husband’s  fishing  boat,  which,  but  two  days 
before,  he  had  guided  over  the  seas,  to  obtain  food 


OF  AMERICAN  ^uMEN. 


417 


for  his  family.  She  dared  not  yield  to  those  tender 
recollections,  which  might  have  unnerved  her  arm. 
The  nearest  island  was  at  the  distance  of  three  miles. 
Strong  winds  lashed  the  waters  to  foam.  Over  the 
loud  billows,  that  wearied  and  sorrowful  woman 
rowed,  and  was  preserved.  She  reached  the  next 
island,  and  obtained  the  necessary  aid.  With  such 
energy  did  her  duty  to  her  desolate  babes  inspire  her, 
that  the  voyage  which  depended  on  her  individual 
effort,  was  performed  in  a shorter  time  than  the  re- 
turning one,  when  the  oars  were  managed  by  two 
men,  who  went  to  assist  in  the  last  offices  to  the 
dead.” 


27 


MRS.  JAMES  K POLK. 


A fault  doth  never  with  remorse 
Our  minds  so  deeply  move, 

As  when  another’s  guiltless  life 
Our  error  doth  reprove. 

Brandon. 

Sarah  Childress  Polk  is  the  daughter  of  an  enter- 
prising and  wealthy  merchant  of  Eutherford  county, 
Tennessee.  She  was  married  on  the  first  of  January, 
1824. 

Fitted  to  dignify  and  adorn  any  station  appropriate 
for  woman,  while  presiding  at  the  White  house  she 
was  universally  esteemed,  and  retired  as  honorably 
as  any  woman  since  the  days  of  Washington.  She 
is  intelligent,  refined,  unaffected,  affable,  courteous, 
hospitable,  and,  above  all,  pious,  and  exemplary  as  a 
Christian.  She  has  been  for  years  in  communion 
with  the  Presbyterians ; and  while  at  the  Capital,  and 
the  eyes  of  the  whole  nation  were  upon  her,  she  for- 
bade, in  the  President’s  mansion,  any  amusement  not 
in  keeping  with  the  Christian  profession.  In  this 
respect,  it  may  be  said  of  her,  in  the  language  of 
Shakspeare, 

Tliou  art  not  for  the  fashion  of  these  times. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


419 


The  following  poetical  tribute,  from  the  pen  and 
heart  of  Mrs.  Stephens,  is  well  merited : 

Lady  ! liad  I the  wealth  of  earth 
To  offer  freely  at  thy  shrine, 

Bright  gold,  and  buds  of  dewy  birth, 

Or  gems  from  out  the  teeming  mine, 

A thousand  things  most  beautiful, 

All  sparkling,  precious,  rich,  and  rare, 

These  hands  would  render  up  to  thee — 

Thou  noble  lady,  good  and  fair ! 

For,  as  I write,  sweet  thoughts  arise 
Of  times  when  all  thy  kindness  lent 
A thousand  hues  of  Paradise 
To  the  fleet  moments  as  they  went; 

Then  all  thy  thoughts  were  winged  with  light, 

And  every  smile  was  calm  and  sweet, 

And  thy  low  tones  and  gentle  words 
Made  the  warm  heart’s  blood  thrill  and  beat 

There,  standing  in  our  nation’s  home, 

My  memory  ever  pictures  thee 
As  some  bright  dame  of  ancient  Rome, 

Modest,  yet  all  a queen  should  be. 

I love  to  keep  thee  in  my  mind. 

Thus  mated  with  the  pure  of  old, 

When  love  with  lofty  deeds  combined, 

Made  women  great  and  warriors  bold. 

When  first  I saw  thee  standing  there. 

And  felt  the  pressure  of  thy  hand, 

I scarcely  thought  if  thou  wert  fair, 

Or  of  the  highest  in  the  land  ; 

I knew  thee  gentle,  pure  as  great ; 

All  that  was  lovely,  meek  and  good ; 

And  so  I half  forgot  thy  state 
In  low.  ui  thy  bright  womanhood. 

And  many  a sweet  sensation  came 
That  lingers  in  my  bosom  yet. 

Like  that  celestial,  holy  flame 
That  vestals  tremble  to  forget  * 


420 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


And  on  the  earth,  or  in  the  sky, 

There’s  not  a thought  more  true  and  free 
Than  that  which  beats  within  my  heart, 

In  pleasant  memory  of  thee. 

Lady,  I gladly  would  have  brought 
Some  gem  that  on  thy  heart  may  live ; 
But  this  poor  wreath  of  woven  thought 
Is  all  the  wealth  I have  to  give. 

All  wet  with  heart-dew,  fresh  with  love, 

1 lay  the  garland  at  thy  feet, 

Praying  the  angel  forms  above 
To  weave  thee  one  more  pure  and  sweet. 


THE  WIDOW  JENKINS, 


In  humb7  t vales  the  patriot  heart  may  glow. 

J.  T.  Fields. 

Al  the  time  Colonel  Watson,  the  commander  of  a 
corps  of  regulars  and  tories,  was  making  inroads 
upon  the  Pedee,  he  pitched  his  tent  one  night  near 
the  house  of  a widow  named  Jenkins,  and  took  up 
his  own  quarters  under  her  roof.  Learning,  in  the 
course  of  the  evening,  that  she  had  three  sons  fight- 
*ng  under  General  Marion,  he  commenced  the  fol- 
lowing conversation  with  her : 

“ So,  madam,  they  tell  me  you  have  several  sons 
in  General  Marion’s  camp ; I hope  it  is  not  true.” 
She  said  it  was  very  true,  and  was  only  sorry  that 
it  was  not  a thousand  times  truer. 

“ A thousand  times  truer,  madam ! ” replied  he, 
with  great  surprise,  “ pray  what  can  be  your  meaning 
in  that?” 

“ Why,  sir,  1 am  only  sorry  that  in  place  of  three, 
I have  not  three  thousand  sons  with  General  Marion.” 
“ Aye,  indeed ! well  then,  madam,  begging  your 
pardon,  you  had  better  send  for  them  immediately  to 
come  in  and  join  his  majesty’s  troops  under  my 


4:22 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


command : for  as  they  are  rebels  now  in  arms  against 
their  king,  should  they  be  taken,  they  will  be  hung 
as  sure  as  ever  they  were  born.” 

“ Why,  sir,  you  are  very  considerate  of  my  sons ; 
for  which,  at  any  rate,  I thank  you.  But,  as  you 
have  begged  my  pardon  for  giving  me  this  advice,  I 
must  beg  yours  for  not  taking  it.  My  sons,  sir,  are 
of  age,  and  must  and  will  act  for  themselves.  And 
as  to  their  being  in  a state  of  rebellion  against  their 
king,  I must  take  the  liberty,  sir,  to  deny  that.” 

“ What,  madam!  not  in  rebellion  against  their 
king?  Shooting  at  and  killing  his  majesty’s  subjects 
like  wolves ! don’t  you  call  that  rebellion  against 
their  king,  madam  ? ” 

“No,  sir,  they  are  only  doing  their  duty,  as  God 
and  nature  commanded  them,  sir.” 

“ The  d 1 they  are,  madam  ! ” 

“Yes,  sir,  and  what  you  and  every  man  in  England 
would  glory  to  do  against  the  king,  were  he  to  dare 
to  tax  you  contrary  to  your  own  consent  and  the  con- 
stitution of  the  realm.  ’T  is  the  king,  sir,  who  is  in 
rebellion  against  my  sons,  and  not  they  against  him. 
And  could  right  prevail  against  might,  he  would  as 
certainly  lose  his  head  as  ever  king  Charles  the  First 
did.”  * 


Weems*  Marion,  pp.  182-3. 


A FAITHFUL  LITTLE  GIRL. 


Labor  in  the  path  of  duty 
Beam’d  up  like  a thing  of  beauty. 

C.  P.  Cranch 

44  A very  profane  and  profligate  sailor,  who  be- 
longed to  a vessel  lying  in  the  port  of  New  York, 
went  out  one  day  from  his  ship  into  the  streets, 
bent  on  folly  and  wickedness.  He  met  a pious  little 
girl,  whose  feelings  he  tried  to  wound  by  using  vile 
and  sinful  language.  The  little  girl  looked  him 
earnestly  in  the  face,  warned  him  of  his  danger, 
and,  with  a solemn  tone,  told  him  to  remember  that 
he  must  meet  her  shortly  at"  the  bar  of  God.  This 
unexpected  reproof  greatly  affected  him.  To  use 
his  own  language,  4 it  was  like  a broadside,  raking 
him  fore  and  aft,  and  sweeping  by  the  board  every 
sail  and  spar  prepared  for  a wicked  cruise.5  Abashed 
and  confounded,  he  returned  to  his  ship.  He  could 
not  banish  from  his  mind  the  reproof  of  this  little 
girl.  Her  look  was  present  to  his  mind ; her  solemn 
declaration,  4 You  must  meet  me  at  the  bar  of  God,5 
deeply  affected  his  heart.  The  more  he  reflected 
upon  it,  the  more  uncomfortable  he  felt.  In  a few 
days  his  hard  heart  was  subdued,  and  he  submit- 
ted to  the  Saviour.55 


HOSPITALITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  WOMEN 


Blest  that  abode  where  want  and  pain  repair, 

And  every  stranger  finds  a ready  chair. 

Goldsmith. 

In  his  Three  Years  in  California,  the  Rev.  "Walter 
Colton  speaks  as  follows  of  the  native  women : 

Their  hospitality  knows  no  bounds  ; they  are 
always  glad  to  see  yon,  come  when  you  may  ; take  a 
pleasure  in  entertaining  you  while  you  remain ; and 
only  regret  that  your  business  calls  you  away.  If 
you  are  sick,  there  is  nothing  which  sympathy  and 
care  can  devise  or  perform,  which  is  not  done  for  you. 
No  sister  ever  hung  over  the  throbbing  brain  or  flut- 
tering pulse  of  a brother  with  more  tenderness  and 
fidelity.  This  is  as  true  of  the  lady  whose  hand  has 
only  figured  her  embroidery  or  swept  her  guitar,  as 
of  the  cottage-girl  wringing  from  her  laundry  the 
foam  of  the  mountain  stream ; and  all  this  from  the 
heart ! If  I must  be  cast,  in  sickness  or  destitution, 
on  the  care  of  a stranger,  let  it  be  in  California ; but 
let  it  be  before  avarice  has  hardened  the  heart  and 
made  a god  of  gold. 


SAEAH  LANMAN  SMITH. 


Where’er  the  path  of  duty  led, 

With  an  unquestioning  faith  she  trod. 

T.  W.  Renne. 

Among  the  many  names  endeared  to  the  friend? 
of  missions,  is  that  of  Sarah  L.  Smith,  a native  of 
Norwich,  Connecticut.  Her  maiden  name  was  Hun- 
tington. She  was  born  in  1802  ; made  a profession 
of  religion  in  youth  ; became  the  wife  of  the  Rev. 
Eli  Smith  in  July,  1833  5 embarked  with  him  for 
Palestine  the  September  following ; and  died  at  Boo- 
jah,  near  Smyrna,  the  last  day  of  September,  1836. 

Her  work  as  a foreign  missionary  was  quickly 
finished.  She  labored  longer  as  a home  missionary 
among  the  Moheagans,  who  live  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Norwich,  and  there  displayed  most  conspicuously 
the  moral  heroism  of  her  nature.  In  conjunction 
with  Sarah  Breed,  she  commenced  her  philanthropic 
operations  in  the  year  1827.  “ The  first  object  that 

drew  them  from  the  sphere  of  their  own  church,  was 
the  project  of  opening  a Sabbath  school  for  the  poor 
Indian  children  of  Moheagan.  Satisfied  that  this  was 
a work  which  Heaven  would  approve,  they  marked 


426 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


out  their  plans,  and  pursued  them  with  untiring  en- 
ergy. Boldly  they  went  forth,  and,  guided  by  the 
using  smoke  or  sounding  axe,  visited  the  Moheagans 
from  field  to  field,  and  from  hut  to  hut,  till  they 
had  thoroughly  informed  themselves  of  their  numbers, 
condition,  and  prospects.  The  opposition  they  en- 
countered, the  ridicule  and  opprobrium  showered 
upon  them  from  some  quarters,  the  sullenness  of  the 
natives,  the  bluster  of  the  white  tenants,  the  brush 
wood  and  dry  branches  thrown  across  their  pathway, 
could  not  discourage  them.  They  saw  no  ‘ lions  in 
the  way,’  while  mercy,  with  pleading  looks,  beckoned 
them  forward.” 

The  Moheagans  then  numbered  a little  more  than 
one  hundred,  only  one  of  whom  was  a professor  of 
religion.  She  was  ninety-seven  years  of  age.  In  her 
hut  the  first  prayer  meeting  and  the  first  Sabbath 
school  gathered  by  these  young  ladies,  were  held. 

Miss  Breed  soon  removed  from  that  part  of  the 
country,  and  Miss  Huntington  continued  her  labors 
for  awhile  alone.  She  was  at  that  time  very  active 
in  securing  the  formation  of  a society  and  the  circu- 
lation of  a subscription,  having  for  their  object  the 
erection  of  a chapel.  She  found,  ere  long,  a faithful 
co-worker  in  Miss  Elizabeth  Baymond.  They  taught 
a school  in  conjunction,  and  aside  from  their  duties 
as  teachers,  were,  at  times,  “ advisers,  counsellors, 
lawgivers,  milliners,  mantuamakers,  tailoresses  and 
almoners.”  * 

* Missionary  Offering,  p.  86.  We  are  indebted  to  the  same  source  for 
most  of  the  particulars  embraced  in  this  article. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN.  427 

“ The  school  was  kept  in  a house  on  Fort  Hill 
leased  to  a respectable  farmer  in  whose  family  the 
young  teachers  boarded  by  alternate  weeks,  each  go- 
ing to  the  scene  of  labor  every  other  Sabbath  morning 
and  remaining  till  the  evening  of  the  succeeding 
Sabbath,  so  that  both  were  present  in  the  Sabbath 
school,  which  was  twice  as  large  as  the  other.  A 
single  incident  will  serve  to  show  the  dauntless  reso- 
lution which  Miss  Huntington  carried  into  her  pur- 
suits. Just  at  the  expiration  of  one  of  her  terms  of 
service  during  the  winter,  a heavy  and  tempestuous 
fall  of  snow  blocked  up  the  roads  with  such  high 
drifts,  that  & friend  who  had  been  accustomed  to  go 
for  her  and  convey  her  home  in  bad  weather,  and 
had  started  for  this  purpose  in  his  sleigh,  turned 
back,  discouraged.  No  path  had  been  broken,  and 
the  undertaking  was  so  hazardous  that  he  conceived 
no  female  would  venture  forth  at  such  a time.  He 
therefore  called  at  her  father’s  house  to  say  that  he 
should  delay  going  for  her  till  the  morrow.  What 
was  his  surprise  to  be  met  at  the  door  by  the  young 
lady  herself,  who  had  reached  home  just  before,  hav- 
ing walked  the  whole  distance  on  the  hard  crust  of 
snow,  alone , and  some  of  the  way  over  banks  of 
snow  that  entirely  obliterated  the  walls  and  fences  by 
the  roadside.” 

While  at  Moheagan,  Miss  Huntington  corresponded 
with  the  Hon.  Lewis  Cass,  then  Secretary  of  War, 
and  secured  his  influence  and  the  aid  of  that  depart- 
ment. In  1832,  a grant  of  nine  hundred  dollars  was 
made  from  the  fund  devoted  to  the  Indian  depart 


428 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


ment,  five  hundred  being  appropriated  towards  the 
erection  of  missionary  buildings  and  four  for  the 
support  of  a teacher.  Before  leaving  the  Moheagan, 
for  a wider  field,  this  devoted  and  heroic  missionary 
had  the  happiness  of  seeing  a chapel,  parsonage  and 
school  house,  standing  on  “ the  sequestered  land  ”*  of 
her  forest  friends,  and  had  thus  partially  repaid  the 
debt  of  social  and  moral  obligation  to  a tribe  who 
fed  the  first  and  famishing  settlers  in  Connecticut, 
and  strove  to  protect  them  against  the  tomahawk  of 
inimical  tribes,  and  whose  whoop  was  friendly  to 
freedom  when  British  aggressors  were  overriding 
American  rights. 

* That  was  its  original  name.  It  is  a reserved  tract ; contains 
between  two  and  three  thousand  acres,  and  a considerable  part  is  now 
occupied  by  white  tenants.  Its  situation  is  on  the  Thames  between 
New  London  and  Norwich. 


A BROTHER  SAYED  BY  HIS  SISTER. 


Brave  spirits  are  a balsam  to  themselves. 

Cartwright. 


During  the  invasion  of  the  Mohawk  valley  by 
Sir  John  Johnson,  Samson  Sammons,  of  Johnstown, 
and  his  three  sons,  were  taken  captive  early  one 
morning  in  May.  The  females  were  not  made  pri- 
soners. While  a soldier  was  standing  sentinel  over 
the  youngest  son,  named  Thomas,  who  was  about 
eighteen,  the  latter,  who  was  not  more  than  half 
dressed,  said  he  was  not  going  to  Canada  in  such 
a plight ; that  he  should  need  his  shoes  especially ; 
and  asked  permission  to  go  to  his  chamber  and  get 
his  clothes.  The  favor  was  not  granted ; but  Tho- 
mas, resolving  to  have  his  shoes,  stepped  towards 
the  door,  when  the  barbarous  soldier  pointed  a bay- 
onet at  his  back,  and  made  a plunge.  At  that 
moment  a sister,  who  had  watched  every  movement 
with  breathless  anxiety,  sprang  forward,  seized  the 
gun,  threw  herself  across  its  barrel,  bore  it  to  the 
ground,  and  thus  saved  her  brother’s  life.  After  a 
brief  struggle,  the  soldier  disengaged  his  weapon, 
but  before  he  had  time  to  make  another  plunge,  an 


130 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


officer  rushed  forward  and  asked  wnat  was  the 
trouble.  The  heroic  girl  stated  the  case,  when  the 
soldier  was  severely  rebuked,  and  her  brother  per- 
mitted to  obtain  his  shoes  and  all  the  raiment  he 
desired.* 


* It  may  be  interesting  to  the  reader  to  know  that  Thomas  Sam- 
mons did  not  go  to  Canada.  He  was  released  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
same  day,  with  some  other  persons  who  had  been  taken  prisoners  du- 
ring the  forenoon.  Feigning  extreme  lameness  in  one  foot,  he  attracted 
the  attention  and  excited  the  sympathy  of  the  widow  of  a British 
officer : she  had  resided  in  the  neighborhood,  knew  many  of  the  cap- 
tives, and  as  some  were  her  personal  friends,  she  asked  Sir  John  to  per- 
mit their  release.  He  did  so ; and  on  going  into  the  field  to  select 
them,  writes  Colonel  Stone,  “ she  adroitly  smuggled  young  Sammons 
into  the  group,  and  led  him  away  in  safety.” 


PATRIOTIC  SACRIFICE  OF  MRS.  BORDEN 


They  love  their  land  because  it  is  their  own. 

Halleck. 

At  the  darkest  period  of  the  Revolution,  New 
Jersey  was,  for  a short  time,  full  of  British  soldiers, 
and  Lord  Cornwallis  was  stationed  at  Bordentown.* 
He  visited  Mrs.  Borden  one  day,  at  her  elegant 
mansion,  and  made  an  effort  to  intimidate  her.  He 
told  her  that  if  she  would  persuade  her  husband 
and  son,  who  were  then  in  the  American  army,  to 
join  his  forces,  none  of  her  property  should  be  de- 
stroyed; but  if  she  refused  to  make  such  exertions, 
he  would  burn  her  house,  and  lay  waste  her  whole 
estate.  Unintimidated  and  patriotic,  she  made  the 
following  bold  reply,  which  caused  the  execution 
of  the  threat : “ The  sight  of  my  house  in  flames 
would  be  a treat  to  me,  for  I have  seen  enough  to 
know  that  you  never  injure  what  you  have  power 
to  keep  and  enjoy.  The  application  of  a torch  to 
my  dwelling  I should  regard  as  the  signal  for  your 
departure.55  And  such  it  was. 


Major  Garden. 


MARGARET  CORBIN. 


Where  cannon  boomed,  where  bayonets  clashed, 

There  was  thy  fiery  way. 

Sara  J.  Clarke. 

An  act  similar  to  that  recorded  of  Mrs.  Pitcher 
at  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  was  performed  by  Mrs. 
Margaret  Corbin  at  the  attack  on  Fort  Washington. 
Her  husband  belonged  to  the  artillery;  and,  stand- 
ing by  his  side  and  seeing  him  fall,  she  unhesita- 
tingly took  his  place  and  heroically  performed  his 
duties.  Her  services  were  appreciated  by  the  offi- 
cers of  the  army,  and  honorably  noticed  by  Con 
gress.  This  body  passed  the  following  resolution 
in  July,  1779: 

“Resolved, — That  Margaret  Corbin,  wounded  and 
disabled  at  the  battle  of  Fort  Washington,  while 
she  heroically  filled  the  post  of  her  husband,  who 
was  killed  by  her  side  serving  a piece  of  artillery, 
do  receive  during  her  natural  life,  or  continuance 
of  said  disability,  one-half  the  monthly  pay  drawn 
by  a soldier  in  service  of  these  States-  and  that 
she  now  receive  out  of  public  stores,  one  suit  of 
clothes  or  value  thereof  in  money.” 


.BRAVERY  OF  MRS.  CHARRING-. 


The  truly  brave, 

When  they  behold  the  brave  oppressed  with  odds. 

Are  touched  with  a desire  to  shield  or  save. 

Byron. 

Soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  the  family  of  Dr.  Channing,*  being  in  England, 
removed  to  France,  and  shortly  afterwards  sailed 
for  the  United  States.  The  vessel,  said  to  be  stout 
and  well-armed,  was  attacked  on  the  voyage  by  a 
privateer,  and  a fierce  engagement  ensued.  During 
its  continuance,  Mrs.  Channing  stood  on  the  deck, 
exhorting  the  crew  not  to  give  up,  encouraging  them 
with  words  of  cheer,  handing  them  cartridges,  and 
aiding  such  of  them  as  were  disabled  by  wounds. 
When,  at  length,  the  colors  of  the  vessel  were 
struck,  she  seized  her  husband’s  pistols  and  side 
arms,  and  flung  them  into  the  sea,  declaring  that 
she  would  prefer  death  to  the  witnessing  of  their 
surrender  into  the  hands  of  the  foe. 


* This  anecdote,  which  is  recorded  in  several  works,  cannot  refer  to 
the  late  William  Ellery  Channing,  as  he  was  not  born  at  the  com 
ruencement  of  the  Revolution. 


28 


COMMENDABLE  COURAGE. 


Have  chivalry’s  bold  days 
A deed  of  wilder  bravery 
In  all  their  stirring  lays  ? 

Sara  J.  Clarke 

An  incident  which  occurred  at  one  of  the  forts  in 
the  Mohawk  valley,  might  have  been  mentioned  in 
connection  with  the  heroism  of  Schoharie  women.  It 
is  briefly  related  by  the  author  of  Border  Wars  of  the 
American  Revolution.  “An  interesting  young  wo- 
man,55 he  writes,  “ whose  name  yet  lives  in  story 
among  her  own  mountains,  perceiving,  as  she  thought, 
symptoms  of  fear  in  a soldier  who  had  been  ordered 
to  a well  without  the  works,  and  within  range  of  the 
enemy’s  fire,  for  water,  snatched  the  bucket  from  his 
hands,  and  ran  forth  for  it  herself.  Without  changing 
color,  or  giving  the  slightest  evidence  of  fear,  she 
drew  and  brought  back  bucket  after  bucket  to  the 
thirsty  soldiers,  and  providentially  escaped  without 
injury.55 


THE  HEROINE  OF  SHELL’S  BUSH. 


I dare  do  all  that  may  become  a man. 

Who  dares  do  more,  is  none. 

Shakspeare. 

For  three-fourths  of  a century,  there  has  been  a 
wealthy  settlement  of  Germans  four  or  five  miles 
north  of  the  village  of  Herkimer,  in  the  upper  part 
of  the  Mohawk  valley,  called  Shell’s  Bush.  Among 
the  early  settlers,  was  John  Christian  Shell,  who  had 
a family  of  six  brave  sons  and  a no  less  brave  wife. 
When,  on  the  sixth  of  August,  1781,  a Scotch  refugee 
named  Donald  McDonald,  at  the  head  of  sixty-six 
tories  and  Indians,  attacked  that  settlement,  Mrs. 
Shell  acted  the  part  of  an  heroic  dame.  The  house 
was  built  for  border  emergencies,  and  when  the 
enemy  approached,  the  husband  and  older  boys  * fled 
from  the  fields,  entered  their  castle,  and  strongly 
barricaded  the  doors.  From  two  o’clock  in  the  after- 
noon until  twilight,  the  besieged  kept  up  an  almost 
incessant  firing,  Mrs.  Shell  loading  the  guns  for  her 


* The  two  youngest  boys,  who  were  twins  and  about  eight  years 
old,  were  captured ; and  when  the  enemy  fled,  they  were  carried 
away  as  prisoners. 


436 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


husband  and  older  sons  to  discharge.  During  the 
siege,  McDonald  attempted  to  force  the  door  with  a 
crow  bar,  and  was  shot  in  the  leg,  seized  by  Shell  and 
drawn  within  doors.  Exasperated  at  this  bold  feat, 
the  enemy  soon  attempted  to  carry  the  fortress  by 
assault,  five  of  them  leaping  upon  the  walls  and 
thrusting  their  guns  through  the  loopholes.  At  that 
moment  the  cool  and  courageous  woman  seized  an 
axe,  smote  the  barrels  and  bent  and  spoiled  them. 
Her  husband  then  resorted  to  stratagem  to  drive  the 
besiegers  away  : running  up  stairs  and  calling  to  Mrs. 
Shell  in  a very  loud  voice,  he  said  that  Captain  Small 
was  approaching  with  help  from  Fort  Dayton.  Then 
raising  his  voice  to  its  highest  pitch,  he  exclaimed, 
“ Captain  Small,  march  your  company  round  upon 
this  side  of  the  house.  Captain  Getman,  you  had 
better  wheel  your  men  off  to  the  left,  and  come  up 
upon  that  side.5’  * Fearing  the  phantom  troops  whom 
Mr.  Shell’s  imagination  had  conjured,  the  enemy 
shouldered  their  guns — crooked  barreled  and  all — 
and  quickly  buried  themselves  in  the  dense  forest. 


Border  Wars  of  tlie  American  Revolution,  vol.  2,  p.  153. 


FATHER  TAYLOR’S  WIDOWED  FRIEND 


Humble  toil  and  heavenward  duty. 

Mrs.  Hale. 

“ A pious  widow,  who  resided  among  ignorant  am 

vicious  neighbors  in  the  suburbs  of  B , Massa 

chusetts,  determined  to  do  what  she  could  for  thei11 
spiritual  benefit ; and  so  she  opened  her  little  front 
room  for  weekly  prayer  meetings,  and  engaged  some 
pious  Methodists  to  aid  in  conducting  them.  Much 
of  the  seed  thus  scattered  on  a seemingly  arid  soil, 
produced  fruit.  One  instance  deserves  special  notice. 

“ Among  others  who  attended,  was  a young  sailor 
of  intelligent  and  prepossessing  countenance.  A 
slight  acquaintance  with  him  discovered  him  to  be 
very  ignorant  of  even  the  rudiments  of  education  ; 
but,  at  the  same  time,  he  had  such  manifestly  supe- 
rior abilities,  that  the  widow  became  much  interested 
in  his  spiritual  welfare,  and  could  not  but  hope  that 
God  would  in  some  way  provide  for  his  further 
instruction,  convert  him  and  render  him  useful.  But 
in  the  midst  of  her  anticipations,  he  was  suddenly 
summoned  away  to  sea.  He  had  been  out  but  a 
6hort  time  when  the  vessel  was  seized  by  a British 


438 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


privateer  and  carried  into  Halifax,  where  the  crew 
suffered  by  a long  and  wretched  imprisonment. 

“ A year  had  passed  away,  during  which  the  good 
woman  had  heard  nothing  of  the  young  sailor.  Still 
she  remembered  and  prayed  for  him  with  the  solici- 
tude of  a mother.  About  this  time,  she  received  a 
letter  from  her  relations,  who  resided  in  Halifax,  on 
.business  which  required  her  to  go  to  that  town. 
While  there,  her  habitual  disposition  to  be  useful,  led 
her  with  a few  friends  to  visit  the  prison  with  Bibles 
and  tracts.  In  one  apartment  were  the  American 
prisoners.  As  she  approached  the  grated  door,  a 
voice  shouted  her  name,  calling  her  mother,  and  a 
youth  appeared  and  leaped  for  joy  at  the  grate.  It 
was  the  lost  sailor  boy  ! They  wept  and  conversed 
like  mother  and  son,  and  when  she  left  she  gave  him 
a Bible — his  future  guide  and  comfort.  During  her 
stay  at  Halifax,  she  constantly  visited  the  prison, 
supplying  the  youth  with  tracts,  religious  books,  and 
clothing,  and  endeavoring  by  her  conversation  to 
secure  the  religious  impression  made  on  his  mind  at 

the  prayer  meetings  in  B — . After  many  months 

she  removed  to  a distant  part  of  the  provinces  ; and 
for  years  she  heard  nothing  more  of  the  young  sailor. 

“ We  pass  over  a period  of  many  years,  and  intro- 
duce the  reader  to  Father  T , the  distinguished 

mariners’  preacher  in  the  city  of  B . In  a 

spacious  and  substantial  chapel,  crowded  about  by 
the  worst  habitations  in  the  city,  this  distinguished 
man  delivered  every  Sabbath,  discourses  as  extraordi- 
nary, perhaps,  as  are  to  be  found  in  the  Christian 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


439 


world.  In  the  centre  column  of  seats,  guarded 
sacredly  against  all  other  intrusion,  sat  a dense  mass 
of  mariners — a strange  medley  of  white,  black,  and 
olive ; Protestant,  Catholic,  and  Pagan.  On  the  other 
seats  in  the  galleries,  the  aisles,  the  altar,  and  on  the 
pulpit  stairs,  were  crowded,  week  after  week,  and 
year  after  year — the  families  of  sailors,  and  the  poor 
who  had  no  other  temple — the  elite  of  the  city — the 
learned  professor — the  student — the  popular  writer — • 
the  actor — groups  of  clergymen,  and  the  votaries  of 
gayety  and  fashion,  listening  with  throbbing  hearts 
and  wet  eyes,  to  a man  whose  only  school  had  been 
the  forecastle,  and  whose  only  endowments  were  those 
of  grace  and  nature. 

u In  the  year  183 — , an  aged  English  local  preacher 

moved  into  the  city  of  B from  the  British 

provinces. 

u The  old  local  preacher  was  mingling  in  a public 
throng  one  day  with  a friend,  when  they  met  4 Father 

T A few  words  of  introduction  led  to  a free 

conversation,  in  which  the  former  residence  of  his 
wife  in  the  city  was  mentioned,  and  allusion  was 
made  to  her  prayer  meeting — her  former  name  was 

asked  by  ‘ Father  T — he  seemed  seized  by 

an  impulse — inquired  their  residence,  hastened  away, 
and  in  a short  time  arrived  in  a carriage,  with  all  his 
family,  at  the  home  of  the  aged  pair.  There  a scene 
ensued  which  must  be  left  to  the  imagination  of  the 

reader.  ‘Father  T 5 was  the  sailor  boy  of  the 

prayer  meeting  and  the  prison.  The  old  lady  was 
the  widow  who  had  first  cared  for  his  soul.” 


PICTURE  OF  A REVOLUTIONARY 
MOTHER. 


This  is  my  own,  my  native  land. 

Scott. 

True  wit  is  nature  to  advantage  dressed. 

Pope. 

Mrs.  Eliza  Wilkinson  resided  during  the  Revolution 
on  Yonge’s  island,  thirty  miles  south  of  Charleston, 
South  Carolina.  She  was  a cheerful,  witty  and  ac- 
complished young  widow,  and  a keen  sufferer  on 
account  of  her  whig  principles.  Her  letters,  arranged 
by  Mrs.  Gilman,  and  published  several  years  ago, 
afford  a panoramic  view  of  many  dark  scenes  at 
the  gloomiest  period  of  American  history,  and  beauti- 
fully daguerreotype  her  own  pure  and  patriotic  heart. 
A single  extract  will  show  her  character.  She 
visited  the  city  of  Charleston  soon  after  its  surrender, 
and  witnessed  the  departure  of  her  exiled  friends. 
Referring  to  matters  about  that  period,  she  writes; 

“Once  I was  asked  by  a British  officer  to  play 
the  guitar. 

“ 4 I cannot  play ; I am  very  dull.5 

“ 4 How  long  do  you  intend  to  continue  so,  Mrs. 
Wilkinson  2 5 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


441 


“ 4 Until  my  countrymen  return,  sir  ! 5 

“4 Return  as  what, madam? — prisoners  or  subjects?’ 

44  4 As  conquerors,  sir.’ 

“He  affected  a laugh.  4 You  will  never  see  that, 
madam ! ’ 

“ 4 I live  in  hopes,  sir,  of  seeing  the  thirteen  stripes 
hoisted  once  more  on  the  bastions  of  this  garrison.’ 
“‘Do  not  hope  so;  but  come,  give  us  a tune  on 
the  guitar.’ 

“ 4 1 can  play  nothing  but  rebel  songs.’ 

“ 4 Well,  let  us  have  one  of  them.’ 

44  4 Hot  to-day  — I cannot  play— I will  not  play; 
besides,  I suppose  I should  be  put  into  the  Provost 
for  such  a heinous  crime.’ 

44 1 have  often  wondered  since,  I was  not  packed 
off,  too  ; for  I was  very  saucy,  and  never  disguised 
my  sentiments. 

44  One  day  Kitty  and  I were  going  to  take  a walk 
on  the  Bay,  to  get  something  we  wanted.  Just  as 
we  had  got  our  hats  on,  up  ran  one  of  the  Billets 
into  the  dining-room,  where  we  were. 

44  4 Your  servant,  ladies.’ 

44  4 Your  servant,  sir.’ 

44  4 Going  out,  ladies  ? ’ 

44  4 Only  to  take  a little  walk.’ 

44  He  immediately  turned  about  and  ran  down 
stairs.  I guessed  for  what.  . . . He  of- 

fered me  his  hand,  or  rather  arm,  to  lean  upon. 

44  4 Excuse  me,  sir,’  said  I ; 4 1 will  support  myself 

if  3rou  please.’ 

19* 


442 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


“ ‘ No,  madam,  the  pavements  are  very  uneven ; 
you  may  get  a fall ; do  accept  my  arm.5 

“ c Pardon  me,  I cannot.5 

“ c Come,  you  do  not  know  what  your  condescen- 
sion may  do.  I will  turn  rebel ! 5 

“ c Will  you  ? 5 said  I,  laughingly  — c Turn  rebel  first, 
and  then  offer  your  arm.5 

“We  stopped  in  another  store,  where  were  several 
British  officers.  After  asking  for  the  articles  I wanted, 
I saw  a broad  roll  of  ribbon,  which  appeared  to  be  of 
black  and  white  stripes. 

“ c Go,5  said  I to  the  officer  who  was  with  us,  c and 
reckon  the  stripes  of  that  ribbon  ; see  if  they  are  thir- 
teen! 5 (with  an  emphasis  I spoke  the  word)  — and  he 
went,  too ! 

66  ‘ Yes,  they  are  thirteen,  upon  my  word,  madam.5 

“ c Do  hand  it  me.5  He  did  so ; I took  it,  and 
found  that  it  was  narrow  black  ribbon,  carefully 
wound  round  a broad  white.  I returned  it  to  its  place 
on  the  shelf. 

“ c Madam,5  said  the  merchant,  c you  can  buy  the 
black  and  white  too,  and  tack  them  in  stripes.5 

“ By  no  means,  sir  ; I would  not  have  them  slightly 
tacked , but  firmly  united .5  The  above  mentioned  of- 
ficers sat  on  the  counter  kicking  their  heels.  How 
they  gaped  at  me  when  I said  this  ! But  the  mer- 
chant laughed  heartily.55 


SUCCESSFUL  DARING. 


He  stopped  the  fliers. 

Shakspeare’s  Coriolanus. 

Many  years  ago,  while  a stage  was  passing  through 
Temple,  New  Hampshire,  the  driver’s  seat  gave  way, 
and  himself  and  a gentleman  seated  with  him,  were 
precipitated  to  the*  ground.  The  latter  was  killed. 
The  horses  took  fright  at  the  noise,  and  ran  a mile 
or  more  at  full  speed.  Meanwhile,  Miss  Abigail 
Brown,  the  only  inside  passenger  and  now  the  sole 
occupant  of  the  stage,  endeavored,  by  speaking  sooth- 
ingly, to  stop  the  horses.  At  length  they  came  to 
a high  hill,  when  their  speed  began  to  slacken,  and 
Miss  Brown,  having  previously  opened  the  door 
and  taken  a convenient  position  to  alight,  sprang 
out.  Not  content  to  save  her  own  life,  but  bent 
on  acting  the  part  of  a heroine,  she  rushed  forward, 
seized  the  leaders,  turned  them  out  of  the  road,  and 
held  them  fast  till  persons  whom  she  had  passed 
and  who  had  tried  to  stop  the  flying  steeds,  came 
to  her  relief.  Had  this  feat,  trifling  as  it  may  seem, 
been  performed  by  the  wife  of  some  Roman  digni- 
tary, she  would  have  been  apotheosized  and  her  bio- 
graphy inserted  in  Lempriere’s  Classical  Dictionary. 


WORTHY  EXAMPLE  OF  FORGIVENESS 


They  who  forgive  most  shall  be  most  forgiven. — Bailey. 

“ A worthy  old  colored  woman  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  was  one  day  walking  along  the  street,  on 
some  errand  to  a neighboring  store,  with  her  tobacco 
pipe  in  her  month,  quietly  smoking.  A jovial  sailor, 
rendered  a little  mischievous  by  liquor,  came  saw- 
ing down  the  street,  and  when  opposite  our  good 
Phillis,  saucily  crowded  her  aside,  and  with  a pass 
of  his  hand  knocked  her  pipe  out  of  her  mouth. 
He  then  halted  to  hear  her  fret  at  his  trick,  and 
enjoy  a laugh  at  her  expense.  But  what  was  his 
astonishment,  when  she  meekly  picked  up  the  pieces 
of  her  broken  pipe,  without  the  least  resentment 
in  her  manner,  and  giving  him  a dignified  look  of 
mingled  sorrow,  kindness  and  pity,  said,  ‘ God  for- 
give you,  my  son,  as  I do.5  It  touched  a tender 
cord  in  the  heart  of  the  rude  tar.  He  felt  ashamed, 
condemned  and  repentant.  The  tear  started  in  his 
eye;  he  must  make  reparation.  He  heartily  con- 
fessed his  error,  and  thrusting  both  hands  into  his 
two  full  pockets  of  ‘ cha/ngef  forced  the  contents 
upon  her,  exclaiming,  c God  bless  you,  kind  mother, 
I’ll  never  do  so  again.5  55 


CROOKS  HANKS  SAVED  BY  A FEMALE. 


Oh  the  tender  ties, 

Close  twisted  with  the  fibres  of  the  heart. 

Young. 

The  night  before  the  surprise  of  Georgetown,  Adju- 
tant Crookshanks,  one  of  the  enemy’s  officers,  to- 
gether with  some  of  his  commissioned  comrades, 
slept  at  a public  house.  The  next  morning  it  was 
surrounded,  and  the  Adjutant  would  have  lost  his 
life,  but  for  the  interposition  of  the  landlord’s  daugh- 
ter, to  whom  he  was  affianced.  Awakened  and,  at 
first,  alarmed  by  the  firing  without  and  the  bustle 
at  the  door,  and  hearing  her  lover's  voice,  she  sprung 
out  of  bed  and  rushed,  half  dresbed,  into  the  piazza. 
At  that  moment  the  swords  of  her  countrymen 
were  raised  over  his  head,  and  she  threw  her  arms 
around  his  neck,  exclaiming,  “O  save!  save  Major 
Crookshanks ! ” Though  made  a prisoner,  he  was 
forthwith  paroled,  and  left,  for  the  with  the 

brave  and  true-hearted  maiden. 


A PATRIOTIC  ARTIST. 


Genius,  the  Pythian  of  the  Beautiful, 

Leaves  its  large  truths  a riddle  to  the  dull. 

Btjlwer. 

“At  the  commencement  of  tlie  Revolution,  Mrs 
Wright,  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  a distinguished 
modeler  of  likenesses  and  figures  of  wax,  was  ex- 
hibiting specimens  of  her  skill  in  London.  The 
king  of  Great  Britain,  pleased  wfith  her  talents,  gave 
her  liberal  encouragement,  and,  finding  her  a great 
politician,  and  an  enthusiastic  republican,  wTould  often 
enter  into  discussion  relative  to  passing  occurrences, 
and  endeavored  to  refute  her  opinion  with  regard 
to  the  probable  issue  of  the  war.  The  frankness 
with  wdiich  she  delivered  her  sentiments,  seemed 
rather  to  please  than  to  offend  him;  wThich  was  a 
fortunate  circumstance,  for,  when  he  asked  an 
opinion,  she  gave  it  without  constraint,  or  the  least 
regard  to  consequences.  I remember  to  have  heard 
her  say,  that  on  one  occasion,  the  monarch,  irritated 
by  some  disaster  to  his  troops,  where  he  had  prog- 
nosticated a triumph,  exclaimed  with  warmth:  4 1 
wish,  Mrs.  Wright,  you  would  tell  me  how  it  will  be 
possible  to  check  the  silly  infatuation  of  your  country- 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


447 


men,  restore  them  to  reason,  and  render  them  good 
and  obedient  subjects.5  — 4 1 consider  their  submis- 
sion to  your  majesty’s  government  is  now  altogether 
out  of  the  question,5  replied  Mrs.  Wright:  c friends 
you  may  make  them,  but  never  subjects  ; for  Amer- 
ica, before  a king  can  reign  there,  must  become  a 
wilderness,  without  any  other  inhabitants  than  the 
beasts  of  the  forest.  The  opponents  of  the  decrees 
of  your  parliament,  rather  -than  submit,  would  perish 
to  a man ; but  if  the  restoration  of  peace  be  seriously 
the  object  of  your  wishes,  I am  confident  that  it 
needs  but  the  striking  off  of  three  heads  to  produce 
it.5 — 4 O,  Lord  North’s  and  Lord  George  Germaine’s, 
beyond  all  question ; and  where  is  the  third  head  ? 5 
O,  sir,  politeness  forbids  me  to  name  him . Your 
majesty  could  never  wish  me  to  forget  myself,  and 
be  guilty  of  an  incivility.5 

“ In  her  exhibition  room,  one  group  of  figures  par- 
ticularly attracted  attention  ; and  by  all  who  knew 
her  sentiments,  was  believed  to  be  a pointed  hint  at 
the  results  which  might  follow  the  wild  ambition  of 
the  monarch.  The  busts  of  the  king  and  queen  of 
Great  Britain,  were  placed  on  a table,  apparently 
intently  gazing  on  a head,  which  a figure,  an  excel- 
lent representation  of  herself,  was  modeling  in  its 
lap.  It  was  Tie  head  of  the  unfortunate  Charles  the 
First.” 


TEMPERANCE  MOVEMENT  AMONG 
MOHAWK  WOMEN. 


Beware  the  bowl ! though  rich  and  bright 
Its  rubies  flash  upon  the  sight, 

An  adder  coils  its  depths  beneath. 

Whose  lure  is  woe,  whose  sting  is  death. 

Street. 

In  the  years  1801  and  1802,  great  efforts  were 
made  by  the  chiefs  of  the  Mohawk  Indians  to  pre- 
vent the  sale  of  spirituous  liquors  among  their  people. 
In  this  humane  movement  the  women  of  the  tribe 
readily  joined ; and  having  assembled  in  council,  on 
the  twenty-second  of  May,  1802,  they  addressed  the 
chiefs,  whom  they  had  summoned,  as  follows  : 

“ Uncles, — Some  time  ago  the  women  of  this  place 
spoke  to  you,  but  you  did  not  then  answer  them,  as 
you  considered  their  meeting  not  sufficient.  ]STow, 
a considerable  number  of  those  from  below  having 
met  and  consulted  together,  join  in  sentiment,  and 
lament,  as  it  were  with  tears  in  our  eyes,  the  many 
misfortunes  caused  by  the  use  of  spirituous  liquors. 
We  therefore  mutually  request  that  you  will  use 
your  endeavors  to  have  it  removed  from  our  neigh- 
borhood, that  there  may  be  none  sold  nigher  to  us 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


449 


than  the  mountain.  We  flatter  ourselves  that  this 
is  in  your  power,  and  that  you  will  have  compas- 
sion on  our  uneasiness,  and  exert  yourselves  to  have 
it  done.55  Strings  of  Wampum. 

This  appeal  had  a good  effect  on  the  chiefs  ; and 
received  suitable  attention,  drawing  from  them  the  fol- 
lowing reply.  It  was  delivered  by  Captain  Brant: 
“ Nieces, — We  are  fully  convinced  of  the  justice 
of  your  request;  drinking  has  caused  the  many 
misfortunes  in  this  place,  and  has  been,  besides,  a 
great  cause  of  the  divisions,  by  the  effect  it  has  upon 
the  people’s  speech.  We  assure  you,  therefore, 
that  we  will  use  our  endeavours  to  effect  what  you 
desire.  However,  it  depends  in  a great  measure 
upon  government,  as  the  distance  you  propose  is 
within  their  line.  We  cannot,  therefore,  absolutely 
promise  that  our  request  will  be  complied  with.55 

Strings. 

29 


A FEMALE  DST  TIIE  EEYOLUTIOHAEY 
AEMY. 


She’ll  be  a soldier  too,  she’ll  to  the  wars. 

Shakspeare. 

Deborah  Samson,  the  daughter  of  very  poor 
parents,  of  Plymouth  county,  Massachusetts,  began, 
when  about  twenty  years  of  age,  to  feel  the  patriotic 
zeal  which  had  prompted  the  sterner  sex  in  hex 
neighborhood  to  take  up  arms  in  their  country’s 
defence.  She  accordingly  assumed  male  attire,  and 
enlisted  in  the  Revolutionary  army.  W e agree  with 
Mrs.  Ellet  that,  while  this  course  cannot  be  com- 
mended, her  exemplary  conduct,  after  taking  the  first 
step,  goes  far  to  plead  her  excuse,  and  is  worthy  of 
record.  Her  method  of  obtaining  men’s  garments, 
and  her  military  career,  are  thus  narrated  by  the 
author  just  mentioned  : 

By  keeping  the  district  school  for  a summer  term, 
she  had  amassed  the  sum  of  twelve  dollars.  She 
purchased  a quantity  of  coarse  fustian,  and,  working 
at  intervals  when  she  could  be  secure  from  observa- 
tion, made  up  a suit  of  men’s  clothing ; each  article, 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


451 


as  it  was  finished,  being  hid  in  a stack  of  hay 
Having  completed  her  preparations,  she  announced 
her  intention  of  going  where  she  could  obtain  better 
wages  for  her  labor.  Her  new  clothes  and  such 
articles  as  she  wished  to  take  with  her,  were  tied  in  a 
bundle.  The  lonely  girl  departed  ; but  went  not  far, 
probably  only  to  the  shelter  of  the  nearest  wood, 
before  putting  on  the  disguise  she  was  so  eager  to 
assume.  Although  not  beautiful,  her  features  were 
animated  and  pleasing,  and  her  figure,  tall  for  a 
woman,  was  finely  proportioned.  As  a man,  she 
might  have  been  called  handsome ; her  genera 
appearance  was  extremely  prepossessing,  and  her 
manner  calculated  to  inspire  confidence. 

She  now  pursued  her  way  to  the  American  army, 
where  she  presented  herself,  in  October,  1778,  as  a 
young  man  anxious  to  join  his  efforts  to  those  of  his 
countrymen,  in  their  endeavors  to  oppose  the  common 
enemy.  Her  acquaintances,  meanwhile,  supposed 
her  engaged  in  service  at  a distance.  Humors  of  her 
elopement  with  a British  soldier,  and  even  of  her 
death,  were  afterwards  current  in  the  neighborhood 
where  she  had  resided  ; bi  it  none  were  sufficiently 
interested  to  make  such  search  for  her  as  might  have 
led  to  a discovery. 

Distrusting  her  own  constancy,  and  resolute  to 
continue  in  the  service,  notwithstanding  any  change 
of  her  inclination,  she  enlisted  for  the  whole  term  of 
the  war.  She  was  received  and  enrolled  in  the  army 
by  the  name  of  Robert  Shirtliffe.  She  was  one  of  the 
first  volunteers  in  the  company  of  Captain  Nathan 


452 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


Thayer  of  Medway,  Massachusetts ; and  as  the  young 
recruit  appeared  to  have  no  home  or  connections,  the 
Captain  gave  her  a home  in  his  family  nntil  his  com- 
pany should  be  full,  when  they  were  to  join  the  main 
army. 

We  now  find  her  performing  the  duties  and 
enduring  the  fatigues  of  military  life.  During  the 
seven  weeks  she  passed  in  the  family  of  Captain 
Thayer,  she  had  time  both  for  experience  and  reflec- 
tion ; but,  in  after  years,  her  constant  declaration  was 
that  she  never,  for  one  moment,  repented  or  regretted 
the  step  she  had  taken.  Accustomed  to  labor  from 
childhood,  upon  the  farm  and  in  out-door  employ- 
ment, she  had  acquired  unusual  vigor  of  constitution  ; 
her  frame  was  robust,  and  of  masculine  strength  ; 
and  having  thus  gained  a degree  of  hardihood,  she 
was  enabled  to  acquire  great  expertness  and  precision 
in  the  manual  exercise,  and  to  undergo  what  a female 
delicately  nurtured  would  have  found  it  impossible 
to  endure.  Soon  after  they  had  joined  the  company, 
the  recruits  were  supplied  with  uniforms  by  a kind 
of  lottery.  That  drawn  by  Robert  did  not  fit ; but, 
taking  needle  and  scissors , he  soon  altered  it  to  suit 
him.  To  Mrs.  Thayer’s  expression  of  surprise,  at 
finding  a young  man  so  expert  in  using  the  imple- 
ments of  feminine  industry,  the  answer  was — that  his 
mother  having  no  girl,  he  had  been  often  obliged  to 
practice  the  seamstress’s  art. 

While  in  the  house  of  Captain  Thayer,  a young 
girl  visiting  his  wife,  was  much  in  the  society  of 
Deborah,  or,  as  she  was  then  called,  Robert.  Coquet- 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


453 


tish  by  nature,  and  perhaps  priding  herself  on  the 
conquest  of  the  “ blooming  soldier,”  she  suffered  her 
growing  partiality  to  be  perceived.  Robert,  on  his 
part,  felt  a curiosity  to  learn  by  new  experience  how 
soon  a maiden’s  fancy  might  be  won ; and  had  no 
scruples  in  paying  attentions  to  one  so  volatile  and 
fond  of  flirtation,  with  whom  it  was  not  likely  the 
impression  would  be  lasting.  This  little  piece  of 
romance  gave  some  uneasiness  to  the  worthy  Mrs. 
Thayer,  who  could  not  help  observing  that  the  liking 
of  her  fair  visitor  for  Robert  was  not  fully  recipro- 
cated. She  took  an  opportunity  of  remonstrating 
with  the  young  soldier,  and  showed  what  unhappiness 
might  be  the  consequence  of  such  folly,  and  how 
unworthy  it  was  of  a brave  man  to  trifle  with  a girl’s 
feelings.  The  caution  was  taken  in  good  part,  and  it 
is  not  known  that  the  “ love  passage  ” was  continued, 
though  Robert  received  at  parting  some  tokens  of 
remembrance,  which  were  treasured  as  relics  in  after 
years. 

For  three  years  our  heroine  appeared  in  the  charac- 
ter of  a soldier,  being  part  of  the  time  employed  as 
a waiter  in  the  family  of  Colonel  Patterson.  During 
this  time,  and  in  both  situations,  her  exemplary 
conduct,  and  the  fidelity  with  which  her  duties  were 
performed,  gained  the  approbation  and  confidence  of 
the  officers.  She  was  a volunteer  in  several  hazardous 
enterprizes,  and  was  twice  wounded,  the  first  time  by 
a sword  cut  on  the  left  side  of  the  head.  Many  were 
the  adventures  she  passed  through  ; as  she  herself 
would  often  say,  volumes  might  be  filled  with  them. 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


*34 

Sometimes  placed,  unavoidably,  in  circumstances  ia 
which  she  feared  detection,  she  nevertheless  escaped 
without  the  least  suspicion  being  awakened  among 
her  comrades.  The  soldiers  were  in  the  habit  of 
calling  her  “ Molly,55  in  playful  allusion  to  her  want 
of  a beard  ; but  not  one  of  them  ever  dreamed  that 
the  gallant  youth  fighting  by  their  side,  was  in  reality 
a female. 

About  four  months  after  her  first  wound  she  re* 
ceived  another  severe  one,  being  shot  through  the 
shoulder.  Her  first  emotion  when  the  ball  entered, 
she  described  to  be  a sickening  terror  at  the  proba- 
bility that  her  sex  would  be  discovered.  She  felt  that 
death  on  the  battle-field  were  preferable  to  the  shame 
that  would  overwhelm  her,  and  ardently  prayed  that 
the  wound  might  close  her  earthly  campaign.  But, 
strange  as  it  may  seem,  she  escaped  this  time  also 
unsuspected ; and  soon  recovering  her  strength,  was 
able  again  to  take  her  place  at  the  post  of  duty,  and 
in  the  deadly  conflict.  Her  immunity  was  not, 
however,  destined  long  to  continue — she  was  seized 
with  a brain  fever,  then  prevalent  among  the  soldiers. 
For  the  few  days  that  reason  struggled  against  the 
disease,  her  sufferings  were  indescribable ; and  most 
terrible  of  all  was  the  dread  lest  consciousness  should 
desert  her,  and  the  secret  she  had  guarded  so  care- 
fully be  revealed  to  those  around  her.  She  was 
carried  to  the  hospital,  and  there  could  only  ascribe 
her  escape  to  the  number  of  patients,  and  the  negli- 
gent manner  in  which  they  were  attended.  Her  case 
was  considered  a hopeless  one,  and  she  perhaps 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


455 


received  less  attention  on  this  account.  One  day 
the  physician  of  the  hospital,  inquiring — “ IIow  is 
.Robert  ? 55  received  from  the  nurse  in  attendance  the 
answer — “ Poor  Bob  is  gone.55  The  doctor  went  to 
the  bed,  and  taking  the  hand  of  the  youth  supposed 
dead,  found  that  the  pulse  was  still  feebly  beating ; 
attempting  to  place  his  hand  on  the  heart,  he  per- 
ceived that  a bandage  was  fastened  tightly  around 
the  breast.  This  was  removed,  and  to  his  utter 
astonishment  he  discovered  a female  patient  where  lie 
had  least  expected  one ! 

This  gentleman  was  Dr.  Binney,  of  Philadelphia. 
With  a prudence,  delicacy  and  generosity,  ever  after- 
wards warmly  appreciated  by  the  unfortunate  suf- 
ferer, he  said  not  a word  of  his  discovery,  but  paid 
her  every  attention,  and  provided  every  comfort  her 
perilous  condition  required.  As  soon  as  she  could  be 
removed  with  safety,  he  had  her  taken  to  his  own 
house,  where  she  could  receive  better  care.  His 
family  wondered  not  a little  at  the  unusual  interest 
manifested  for  the  poor  invalid  soldier. 

Here  occurred  another  of  those  romances  in  real 
life,  which  in  strangeness  surpass  fiction.  The  doctoi 
had  a young  and  lovely  niece,  an  heiress  to  consider 
able  property,  whose  compassionate  feelings  led  hei 
to  join  her  uncle  in  bestowing  kindness  on  the  friend- 
less youth.  Many  censured  the  uncle’s  imprudence 
in  permitting  them  to  be  so  much  in  each  other’s 
society,  and  to  take  drives  so  frequently  together. 
The  doctor  laughed  to  himself  at  the  warnings  and 
hints  he  received,  and  thought  how  foolish  the  censo* 


156 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


rious  would  feel  when  the  truth  should  come  out. 
His  knowledge,  meanwhile,  was  buried  in  his  own 
bosom,  nor  shared  even  with  the  members  of  his 
family.  The  niece  was  allowed  to  be  as  much  with 
the  invalid  as  suited  her  pleasure.  Her  gentle  heart 
was  touched  by  the  misfortunes  she  had  contributed 
to  alleviate ; the  pale  and  melancholy  soldier,  for 
whose  fate  no  one  seemed  to  care,  who  had  no  posses- 
sion in  the  world  save  his  sword,  who  had  suffered  so 
much  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  became  dear  to  her. 
She  saw  his  gratitude  for  the  benefits  and  kindness 
received,  yet  knew  ,by  intuition  that  he  would  never 
dare  aspire  to  the  hand  of  one  so  gifted  by  fortune. 
In  the  confiding  abandonment  of  woman’s  love,  the 
fair  girl  made  known  her  attachment,  and  offered  to 
provide  for  the  education  of  its  object  before  mar- 
riage. Deborah  often  declared  that  the  moment  in 
which  she  learned  that  she  had  unwittingly  gained 
the  love  of  a being  so  guileless,  was  fraught  with  the 
keenest  anguish  she  ever  experienced.  In  return  for 
the  hospitality  and  tender  care  that  had  been  lavished 
upon  her,  she  had  inflicted  pain  upon  one  she  would 
have  died  to  shield.  Her  former  entanglement  had 
caused  no  uneasiness,  but  this  was  a heart  of  a dif- 
ferent mould ; no  way  of  amends  seemed  open,  except 
confession  of  her  real  character,  and  to  that,  though 
impelled  by  remorse  and  self-reproach,  she  could  not 
bring  herself.  She  merely  said  to  the  generous  girl, 
that  they  would  meet  again ; and,  though  ardently 
desiring  the  possession  of  an  education,  that  she  could 
not  avail  herself  of  the  noble  offer.  Before  her  de- 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


457 


parture,  the  young  lady  pressed  on  her  acceptance 
several  articles  of  needful  clothing,  such  as  in  those 
times  many  of  the  soldiers  received  from  fair  hands. 
All  these  were  afterwards  lost  by  the  upsetting  of  a 
boat,  except  the  shirt  and  vest  Robert  had  on  at  the 
time,  which  are  still  preserved  as  relics  in  the  family. 

Her  health  being  now  nearly  restored,  the  physi- 
cian had  a long  conference  with  the  commanding 
officer  of  the  company  in  which  Robert  had  served, 
and  this  was  followed  by  an  order  to  the  youth  to 
carry  a letter  to  General  Washington. 

Her  worst  fears  were  now  confirmed.  From  the 
time  of  her  removal  into  the  doctor’s  family,  she  had 
cherished  a misgiving  which  sometimes  amounted 
almost  to  a certainty,  that  he  had  discovered  her 
deception.  In  conversation  with  him  she  anxiously 
watched  his  countenance,  but  not  a word  or  look 
indicated  suspicion,  and  she  had  again  flattered  her- 
self that  she  was  safe  from  detection.  When  the 
order  came  for  her  to  deliver  a letter  into  the  hands 
of  the  Commander-in-chief,  she  could  no  longer  de- 
ceive herself. 

There  remained  no  course  but  simple  obedience. 
When  she  presented  herself  for  admission  at  the 
head-quarters  of  Washington,  she  trembled  as  she 
had  never  done  before  the  enemy’s  fire.  Her  heart 
sunk  within  her:  she  strove  in  vain  to  collect  and 
compose  herself,  and,  overpowered  with  dread  and 
uncertainty,  was  ushered  into  the  presence  of  the 
Chief.  He  noticed  her  extreme  agitation,  and,  sup- 
posing it  to  proceed  from  diffidence,  kindly  endea 


458 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


vored  to  re-assure  her.  He  then  bade  her  retire 
with  an  attendant,  who  was  directed  to  offer  her 
some  refreshment,  while  he  read  the  communication 
of  which  she  had  been  the  bearer. 

Within  a short  time  she  w^as  again  summoned 
into  the  presence  of  Washington.  He  said  not  a 
word,  but  handed  her  in  silence  a discharge  from 
the  service,  putting  into  her  hand  at  the  same  time 
a note  containing  a few  brief  words  of  advice,  and 
a sum  of  money  sufficient  to  bear  her  expenses  to 
some  place  where  she  might  find  a home.  The  deli- 
cacy and  forbearance  thus  observed  affected  her 
sensibly.  “ HoW  thankful,55  she  has  often  said,  “ was 
I to  that  great  and  good  man  who  so  kindly  spared 
my  feelings!  He  saw  me  ready  to  sink  with  shame; 
one  word  from  him  at  that  moment  would  have 
crushed  me  to  the  earth.  But  he  spoke  no  word — 
and  I blessed  him  for  it.55 

After  the  termination  of  the  war,  she  married 
Benjamin  Gannett,  of  Sharon.  When  Washington 
was  President,  she  received  a letter  inviting  Robert 
Shirtliffe,  or  rather  Mrs.  Gannett,  to  visit  the  seat 
of  government.  Congress  was  then  in  session,  and 
during  her  stay  at  the  capital,  a bill  was  passed 
granting  her  a pension  in  addition  to  certain  lands, 
which  she  was  to  receive  as  an  acknowledgment 
for  her  services  to  the  country  in  a military  capacity. 
She  was  invited  to  the  houses  of  several  of  the 
officers,  and  to  parties  given  in  the  city;  attentions 
which  manifested  the  high  estimation  in  which  she 
was  there  held. 


HOSPITALITY  OF  ELIZABETH  BRANT. 


Stranger,  whoe’er  thou  art,  securely  rest 
Affianced  in  my  faith,  a friendly  guest. 

Pope. 

At  the  close  of  the  last  war,  John  and  Elizabeth 
Brant,  children  of  the  celebrated  warrior,  took  pos- 
session of  their  father’s  mansion  at  the  head  of 
lake  Ontario,  and  dispensed  his  “ ancient  hospi- 
talities.” While  making  the  tour  of  Canada  West 
with  two  of  his  daughters,  in  1819,  James  Buchanan, 
Esq.,  British  consul  for  the  port  of  New  York,  visited 
the  “ Brant  House,”  and  afterwards  published  the 
following  interesting  account  in  a small  volume  of 
Indian  sketches : 

“ After  stopping  more  than  a week  under  the  truly 
hospitable  roof  of  the  Honorable  Colonel  Clarke,  at 
the  Falls  of  Niagara,  I determined  to  proceed  by 
land,  round  lake  Ontario,  to  York;  and  Mrs.  Clarke 
offered  to  give  my  daughters  a letter  of  introduction 
to  a Miss  Brant,  advising  ns  to  arrange  our  time  so 
as  to  sleep  and  stop  a day  or  two  in  the  house  of 
that  lady,  as  she  was  certain  we  should  be  much 
pleased  with  her  and  her  brother.  Our  friend  did 


46C 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


not  intimate,  still  less  did  we  suspect,  that  the  intro- 
duction was  to  an  Indian  prince  and  princess.  Had 
we  been  in  the  least  aware  of  this,  our  previous 
arrangements  would  all  have  given  way,  as  there 
w^as  nothing  I was  more  anxious  to  obtain  than  an 
opportunity  such  as  this  was  so  well  calculated  to 
afford,  of  seeing  in  what  degree  the  Indian  character 
would  be  modified  by  a conformity  to  the  habits  and 
comforts  of  civilized  life. 

“ Proceeding  on  our  journey,  we  stopped  at  an 
inn,  romantically  situated,  where  I determined  to 
remain  all  night.  Among  other  things,  I inquired 
of  the  landlord  if  he  knew  the  distance  to  Miss 
Brant’s  house,  and  from  him  I learned  that  it  was 
about  twenty  miles  farther.  He  added,  that  young 
Mr.  Brant  had  passed  that  way  in  the  forenoon, 
and  would,  no  doubt,  be  returning  in  the  evening, 
and  that,  if  I wished  it,  he  would  be  on  the  lookout 
for  him.  This  I desired  the  landlord  to  do,  as  it 
would  enable  me  to  intimate  our  introduction  to 
his  sister,  and  intention  of  waiting  on  her  the  next 
morning. 

“ At  dusk  Mr.  Brant  returned,  and,  being  intro- 
duced into  our  room,  we  were  unable  to  distinguish 
his  complexion,  and  conversed  with  him,  believing 
him  to  be  a young  Canadian  gentleman.  We  did 
not,  however,  fail  to  observe  a certain  degree  of 
hesitation  and  reserve  in  the  manner  of  his  speech. 
He  certainly  expressed  a wish  that  we  would  do  his 
sister  and  himself  the  favor  of  spending  a few  days 
with  them,  in  order  to  refresh  ourselves  and  our 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


401 


horses:  but  we  thought  his  style  more  laconic  than 
hospitable.  Before  candles  were  brought  in  our  new 
friend  departed,  leaving  us  still  in  error  as  to  his 
nation. 

“By  four  o’clock  in  the  morning  we  resumed 
our  journey.  On  arriving  at  the  magnificent  shores 
of  lake  Ontario,  the  driver  of  our  carriage  pointed 
out,  at  the  distance  of  five  miles,  the  house  of  Miss 
Brant,  which  had  a very  noble  and  commanding 
aspect ; and  we  anticipated  much  pleasure  in  our 
visit.  Young  Mr.  Brant,  it  appeared,  unaware  that 
with  our  carriage  we  could  have  reached  his  house 
so  soon,  had  not  arrived  before  us;  so  that  our  ap- 
proach was  not  announced,  and  we  drove  up  to  the 
door  under  the  full  persuasion  that  the  family  would 
be  apprised  of  our  coming.  The  outer  door,  leading 
to  a spacious  hall,  was  open.  We  entered  and  re- 
mained a few  minutes,  when,  seeing  no  person  about, 
we  proceeded  into  the  parlor,  which,  like  the  hall, 
was  for  the  moment  unoccupied.  We  therefore  had 
an  opportunity  of  looking  about  us  at  our  leisure. 
It  was  a room  well  furnished,  with  a carpet,  pier 
and  chimney  glasses,  mahogany  tables,  fashionable 
chairs,  a guitar,  a neat  hanging  bookcase,  in  which, 
among  other  volumes,  we  perceived  a Church  of 
England  Prayer  Book,  translated  into  the  Mohawk 
tongue.  Having  sent  our  note  of  introduction  in 
by  the  coachman,  and  still  no  person  waiting  on  us, 
we  began  to  suspect  (more  especially  in  the  hungry 
state  we  were  in)  that  some  delay  or  difficulty  about 
breakfast  stood  in  the  way  of  tne  voung  lady’s 


462 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


appearance.  I can  assure  my  readers  that  a keen 
morning’s  ride  on  the  shores  of  an  American  lake 
is  an  exercise  of  all  others  calculated  to  make  the 
appetite  clamorous,  if  not  insolent.  We  had  already 
penetrated  into  the  parlor,  and  were  beginning  to 
meditate  a farther  exploration  in  search  of  the  pan- 
try, when,  to  our  unspeakable  astonishment,  in  walked 
a charming,  noble-looking  Indian  girl,  dressed  partly 
in  the  native  and  partly  in  the  English  costume. 
Her  hair  was  confined  on  the  head  in  a silk  net, 
but  the  lower  tresses,  escaping  from  thence,  flowed 
down  on  her  shoulders.  Under  a tunic  or  morning 
dress  of  black  silk  was  a petticoat  of  the  same 
material  and  color,  which  reached  very  little  below 
the  knee.  Her  silk  stockings  and  kid  shoes  were, 
like  the  rest  of  her  dress,  black.  The  grace  and 
dignity  of  her  movement,  the  style  of  her  dress 
and  manner,  so  new,  so  unexpected,  filled  us  all  with 
astonishment.  With  great  ease,  yet  by  no  means 
in  that  commonplace  mode  so  generally  prevalent 
on  such  occasions,  she  inquired  how  we  found  the 
roads,  accommodations,  etc.  No  flutter  was  at  all 
apparent  on  account  of  the  delay  in  getting  break- 
fast ; no  fidgeting  and  fuss-making,  no  running  in 
and  out,  no  idle  expressions  of  regret,  such  as  4 Oh ! 
dear  me!  had  I known  of  your  coming,  you  would 
not  have  been  kept  in  this  way!5  but,  with  perfect 
ease  she  maintained  conversation,  until  a squaw, 
wearing  a man’s  hat,  brought  in  a tray  with  prepa 
rations  for  breakfast.  A table-cloth  of  fine  white 
damask  being  laid,  we  were  regaled  with  tea,  cofiee, 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


463 


hot  rolls,  butter  in  water  and  ice-coolers,  eggs,  smoked 
beef,  ham,  broiled  chickens,  etc.,  all  served  in  a 
truly  neat  and  comfortable  style.  The  delay,  we 
afterwards  discovered,  arose  from  the  desire  of  our 
hostess  to  supply  us  with  hot  rolls,  which  were  actu- 
ally baked  while  we  were  waiting.  I have  been 
thus  minute  in  my  description  of  these  comforts,  as 
they  were  so  little  to  be  expected  in  the  house  of 
an  Indian. 

“ After  breakfast  Miss  Brant  took  my  daughters 
out  to  walk,  and  look  at  the  picturesque  scenery  of 
the  country.  She  and  her  brother  had  previously 
expressed  a hope  that  we  would  stay  all  day;  but, 
though  I wished  of  all  things  to  do  so,  and  had  de- 
termined, in  the  event  of  their  pressing  their  invi- 
tation, to  accept  it,  yet  I declined  the  proposal  at 
first,  and  thus  forfeited  a pleasure  which  we  all  of 
us  longed  in  our  hearts  to  enjoy;  for,  as  I afterward 
learned,  it  is  not  the  custom  of  any  uncorrupted 
Indian  to  repeat  a request  if  once  rejected.  They 
believe  that  those  to  whom  they  offer  any  mark  of 
friendship,  and  who  give  a reason  for  refusing  it, 
do  so  in  perfect  sincerity,  and  that  it  would  be  rude- 
ness to  require  them  to  alter  their  determination  or 
break  their  word.  And  as  the  Indian  never  makes 
a show  of  civility  but  when  prompted  by  a genuine 
feeling,  so  he  thinks  others  are  actuated  by  a similar 
candor.  I really  feel  ashamed  when  I consider  how 
severe  a rebake  this  carries  with  it  to  us  who  boast 
of  civilization,  but  who  are  so  much  carried  away 
by  the  general  insincerity  of  expression  pervading 


4:64 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


all  ranks,  that  few,  indeed,  are  to  be  found  who 
speak  just  what  they  wish  or  know.  This  duplicity 
is  the  effect  of  what  is  termed  . a high  state  of  refine- 
ment. We  are  taught  so  to  conduct  our  language 
that  others  cannot  discover  our  real  views  or  inten- 
tions. The  Indians  are  not  only  free  from  this  de- 
ceitfulness, but  surpass  us  in  another  instance  of 
good  breeding  and  decorum,  namely,  of  never  in- 
terrupting those  who  converse  with  them  until  they 
have  done  speaking;  and  then  they  reply  in  the 
hope  of  not  being  themselves  interrupted.  This  was 
perfectly  exemplified  by  Miss  Brant  and  her  brother; 
and  I hope  the  lesson  my  daughters  were  so  forcibly 
taught  by  the  natural  politeness  of  their  hostess  will 
never  be  forgotten  by  them,  and  that  I also  may 
profit  by  the  example.” 

Elizabeth  was  the  youngest  daughter  of  Joseph 
Brant.  She  was  married  to  William  Johnson  Kerr, 
a gentleman  who  bore  a commission  in  the  last  war, 
and  fought  against  the  Americans  on  the  Niagara 
frontier.  He  is  a grandson  of  Sir  William  John- 
son. The  author  of  American  Border  Wars,  wrote 
in  1843,  as  follows : “ Mrs.  Kerr,  as  the  reader  must 
infer  from  what  has  been  previously  said  respecting 
her,  was  educated  with  great  care,  as  well  in  regard 
to  her  mental  culture  as  her  personal  accomplish- 
ments. With  her  husband  and  little  family,  she 
now  occupies  the  old  mansion  of  her  father,  at  the 
head  of  lake  Ontario;  a noble  situation,  as  the  au- 
thor can  certify  from  personal  observation.” 


BRIEF  ANECDOTES. 


The  worthy  acts  of  women  to  repeat. 

Mirror  for  Magistrates. 

Immediately  after  the  dreadful  massacre  of  Vir- 
ginia colonists,  on  the  twenty-second  of  March,  1622, 
Governor  Wyat  issued  an  order  for  the  remainder 
of  the  people  to  “ draw  together 55  into  a “ narrow 
compass*,”*  and  most  of  the  eighty  plantations  were 
forthwith  abandoned.  Among  the  persons  who  re- 
mained at  their  homes,  was  Mrs.  Proctor,  whom  Dr. 
Belknap  calls  “a  gentlewoman  of  an  heroic  spirit.’5! 
She  defended  her  plantation  against  the  Indians  a 
full  month,  and  would  not  have  abandoned  it  even 
then,  had  not  the  officers  of  the  colony  obliged  her 
to  do  so. 

One  of  the  best  women  of  her  times  was  Experi- 
ence West,  wife  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  West,  who  was 
pastor  of  a church  in  New  Bedford,  Massachusetts ; 
for  nearly  half  a century.  Her  life  abounded  in 
praiseworthy,  though  unrecorded,  deeds.  The  Doctor 

* Belknap.  t American  Biography,  yol.  2,  p ’ 82. 

30 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


466 

was  aware  of  the  worth  of  his  “help-meet,”  and  had 
a punning  way  of  praising  her  which  must  have 
sounded  odd  in  a Puritan  divine  a hundred  years 
ago.  She  was  unusually  tall,  and  he  sometimes  re- 
marked to  intimate  friends,  that  he  had  found,  by 
long  Experience , that  it  is  good  to  be  married. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Mather  Byles,  of  Boston,  a tory  of 
considerable  notoriety,  paid  unsuccessful  addresses 
to  a young  lady  who  subsequently  gave  her  hand 
to  a gentleman  of  the  name  of  Quincy.  Meeting 
her  one  day,  the  Doctor  remarked : “ So,  madam, 
it  appears  that  you  prefer  a Quincy  to  Byles.” 
“ Yes,”  she  replied,  “for  if  there  had  been  any  thing 
worse  than  biles,  God  would  have  afflicted  Job  with 
them.”  * 

A married  Shawnee  woman  was  once  asked  by  a 
man  who  met  her  in  the  woods,  to  look  upon  and 
kwe  him:  “ Oulman,  my  husband,  who  is  forever 

before  my  eyes,  hinders  me  from  seeing  you  or  any 
other  person.” 

* Sabine’s  American  Loyalist.  The  loyal  divine  was  himself  a wicked 
punster.  “ Near  his  house,  in  wet  weather,  was  a very  bad  slough. 
It  happened  that  two  of  the  selectmen  who  had  the  care  of  the  streets, 
driving  in  a chaise,  stuck  fast  in  this  hole,  and  were  obliged  to  get 
out  in  the  mud  to  extricate  their  vehicle.  Doctor  Byles  came  out, 
and  making  them  a respectful  bow,  said ; ‘ Gentlemen,  I have  often 
complained  to  you  of  this  nuisance  without  any  attention  being 
paid  to  it,  and  I am  very  glad  to  see  you  stirring  in  the  matter  now.’ 
On  the  celebrated  dark  day  in  1780,  a lady  who  lived  near  the 
Doctor,  sent  her  young  son  with  her  compliments,  to  know  if  he 
could  account  for  the  uncommon  appearance.  His  answer  was : 
‘My  dear,  you  will  give  my  compliments  to  your  mamma,  and  tell 
her  that  I am  as  much  in  the  dark  as  she  is.’  ” 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN.  467 

While  the  husband  of  Mrs.  Dissosway,  of  Staten 
island,  was  in  the  hands  of  the  British,  her  brother 
Nathaniel  Randolph,  Captain  in  the  American 
army,  repeatedly  and  greatly  annoyed  the  tories ; and 
they  were  anxious  to  be  freed  from  his  incursions 
Accordingly,  one  of  their  colonels  promised  Mrs, 
Dissosway  to  procure  her  husband’s  release,  if  she 
would  prevail  upon  her  brother  to  leave  the  army 
She  scornfully  replied:  “And  if  I could  act  so 

dastardly  a part,  think  you  that  General  Washington 
has  but  one  Captain  Randolph  in  his  army  ? ” 

When,  by  permission  of  the  British  authorities,  the 
wife  of  Daniel  Hall  was  once  going  to  John’s  island, 
near  Charleston,  to  see  her  mother,  one  of  the  king’s 
officers  stopped  her  and  ordered  her  to  surrender  the 
key  of  her  trunk.  On  her  asking  him  what  he 
wished  to  look  for,  he  replied,  “ For  treason,  madam.” 
“Then,  said  she,  you  may  be  saved  the  trouble  of 
search,  for  y >u  may  find  enough  of  it  at  my  tongue’s 
end.”  * 

When  a party  of  Revolutionary  patriots  left  Plea- 
sant River  settlement,  in  Maine,  on  an  expedition, 
one  of  the  number  forgot  his  powder  horn,  and  his 
wife,  knowing  he  would  greatly  need  it,  ran  twenty 
miles  through  the  woods  before  she  overtook  him. 

When  the  village  of  Buffalo  was  burnt  during  the 
last  war,  only  one  dwelling-house  was  suffered  to 
stand.  Its  owner,  Mrs.  St.  John,  was  a woman  ot 


Major  Garden, 


468 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


wonderful  courage  and  self-possession  ; and  when  the 
Indians  came  to  fire  it,  and  destroy  its  inmates,  she 
ordered  them  away  in  such  a dignified,  resolute  and 
commanding,  yet  conciliatory,  manner,  that  they 
seemed  to  be  awed  in  her  presence,  and  were  kept  at 
bay  until  some  British  officers  rode  up  and  ordered 
them  to  desist  from  the  work  of  destruction.  Saved 
by  her  presence  of  mind  and  heroic  bravery,  she 
who  saw  her  neighbors  butchered  at  their  doors  and 
the  young  village  laid  in  ashes,  lived  to  see  a new 
village  spring  up,  phoenix-like,  and  expand  into  a 
city  of  thirty-five  thousand  inhabitants. 

Mrs.  Beckham,  who  resided  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Pacolet  river,  South  Carolina,  was  a true  friend  of 
freedom,  and  a great  sufferer  on  that  account.  Tarle- 
ton,  after  sharing  in  her  hospitality,  pillaged  her 
house,  and  then  ordered  its  destruction.  Her  eloquent 
remonstrance,  however,  caused  him  to  recall  the 
order.  Concealing  a guinea  in  her  braided  hair,  she 
once  went  eighty  miles  to  Granby,  purchased  a bag 
of  salt,  and  safely  returned  with  it  on  the  saddle 
under  her.* 

The  house  of  Captain  Charles  Sims,  who  resided  on 
Tyger  river,  South  Carolina,  was  often  plundered  by 
tories ; and  on  one  of  these  occasions,  when  his  wife 
was  alone  and  all  the  robbers  had  departed  but  one, 
she  ordered  him  away,  and  he  disobeying,  she  broke 
his  arm  with  a stick,  and  drove  him  from  the  house. 


Vide-  -Women  of  the  Revolution,  vol.  1,  p.  296. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN 


469 


Several  years  ago,  a family,  residing  on  the 
Colorado,  in  Texas,  were  attacked  by  a party  of 
Camanche  Indians,  who  first  fell  upon  two  workmen 
in  the  fields  and  slew  them.  Seeing  one  of  them  fall, 
the  proprietor  of  the  establishment,  who  was  stand- 
ing near  his  house,  caught  two  guns  and  ran  towards 
the  field.  A daughter  hastily  put  on  her  brother’s  hat 
and  surtout,  and  followed  her  father.  She  soon  over- 
took him,  and  persuaded  him  to  'return  to  the  house. 
She  bravely  assisted  in  guarding  it  until  the  Indians, 
tired  of  the  assault,  departed. 

In  the  year  1777,  when  General  Burgoyne  entered 
the  valley  of  the  Hudson,  the  wife  of  General  Schuy- 
ler hastened  to  Saratoga,  her  husband’s  country  seat, 
to  secure  her  furniture.  “ Her  carriage,”  writes  the 
biographer  of  Brant,  u was  attended  by  only  a single 
armed  man  on  horseback.  When  within  two  miles 
of  her  house,  she  encountered  a crowd  of  panic- 
stricken  people,  who  recited  to  her  the  tragic  fate  of 
Miss  M‘Crea,*  and,  representing  to  her  the  danger 
of  proceeding  farther  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  urged 
her  to  return.  She  had  yet  to  pass  through  a dense 
forest  within  which  even  then  some  of  the  savage 

* The  circumstances  in  regard  to  the  murder  of  Jane  JVTCrea,  have 
been  variously  stated.  The  following  version  of  the  cruel  story  ia 
probably  correct : “ Miss  M‘Crea  belonged  to  a family  of  loyalists, 
and  had  engaged  her  hand  in  marriage  to  a young  refugee  named  David 
Jones,  a subordinate  officer  in  the  British  service,  who  was  advancing 
with  Burgoyne.  Anxious  to  possess  himself  of  his  bride,  he  dispatched 
a smaU  party  of  Indians  to  bring  her  to  the  British  camp.  Her  family 
and  friends  were  strongly  opposed  to  her  going  with  such  an  escort; 
but  her  affection  overcame  her  prudence,  and  she  determined  upon  the 


470 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


troops  might  be  lurking  for  prey.  But  to  these  pru- 
dential counsels  she  would  not  listen.  ‘The  General’s 
wife,5  said  she,  1 must  not  be  afraid!5  and,  pushing 
forward,  she  accomplished  her  purpose.55 

While  Thomas  Crittenden,  the  first  Governor  of 
Vermont,  was  discharging  the  functions  of  an  exe- 
cutive, he  was  waited  upon  one  day,  in  an  official 
capacity,  by  several  gentlemen  from  Albany.  The 
dsitors  were  of  the  higher  class,  and  accompanied 
)y  their  aristocratic  wives.  At  noon  the  hostess 
mmmoned  the  workmen  from  the  fields,  and  seated 
them  at  the  table  with  her  fashionable  visitors. 
When  the  females  had  retired  from  the  dinner  table 
to  an  aj3artment  by  themselves,  one  of  the  visitors 
said  to  the  lady  of  the  house,  “You  do  not  usually 
have  your  hired  laborers  sit  down  at  the  first  table 


hazardous  adventure.  She  set  forward  with  her  dusky  attendants  on 
horseback.  The  family  resided  at  the  village  of  Fort  Edward,  whence 
they  had  not  proceeded  half  a mile  before  her  conductors  stopped  to 
drink  at  a spring.  Meantime,  the  impatient  lover,  who  deserved  not 
her  embrace  for  confiding  her  protection  to  such  hands,  instead  of  going 
himself,  had  dispatched  a second  party  of  Indians  upon  the  same 
errand.  The  Indians  met  at  the  spring  ; and  before  the  march  was 
resumed,  they  were  attacked  by  a party  of  the  Provincials.  At  the 
close  of  the  skirmish,  the  body  of  Miss  M‘Crea  was  found  among  the 
slain,  tomahawked,  scalped,  and  tied  to  a pine-tree,  yet  standing  by  the 
side  of  the  spring,  as  a monument  of  the  bloody  transaction.  The 
ascertained  cause  of  the  murder  was  this  : The  pror  ised  reward  foi 
bringing  her  in  safety  to  her  betrothed  was  a barrel  of  rum.  The 
chiefs  of  the  two  parties  sent  for  her  by  Mr.  Jones  quarreled  respecting 
the  anticipated  compensation.  Each  claimed  it ; and,  in  a moment  of 
passion,  to  end  Um  controversy,  one  of  them  struck  her  down  with  his 
hatchet*  * 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


471 


do  you?55  “Why  yes,  madam,”  Mrs.  Crittenden  re 
plied,  “ we  have  thus  far  done  so,  but  are  now  think- 
ing of  making  a different  arrangement.  The  Gov- 
ernor and  myself  have  been  talking  the  matter  over 
a little,  lately,  and  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
men,  who  do  nearly  all  the  hard  work,  ought  to  have 
the  first  table,  — and  that  he  and  I,  who  do  so  little, 
should  be  content  with  the  second.  But,  in  compli- 
ment to  you,  I thought  I would  have  you  sit  down 
with  them,  to-day,  at  the  first  table.55  * 

At  the  Fair  held  in  Castle  Garden,  in  the  autumn 
of  1850,  was  exhibited  a large  Gothic  arm-chair, 
backed  and  cushioned  with  beautifully  wrought 
needle  work  in  worsted.  The  needle  work  was  from 
the  hands  of  Mrs.  Millard  Fillmore.  It  was  setting 
a noble  example  for  the  wife  of  a President  to  pre- 
sent her  handiwork  at  an  industrial  exhibition;  and, 
if  the  decision  of  the  three  Roman  banqueters  in 
regard  to  their  wives,  was  correct  — they  preferring 
the  one  wdio  was  found  with  her  maidens  preparing 
loom-work,  — Mrs.  Fillmore  must  be  ranked  among 
the  best  of  wives. 

During  the  last  war,  Major  Kennedy  of  South 
Carolina,  wished  to  raise  recruits  for  his  troop  of 


* We  find  the  substance  of  this  anecdote  in  a copv  of  the  Green 
Mountain  Freeman  published  in  March,  1851.  The  paper  is  edited  by 
Daniel  P.  Thompson,  Esq.,  who  prefaces  the  article  with  the  remark 
that  the  anecdote  was  related  to  him  “ by  the  late  Mrs.  Timothy  Hub- 
bard, of  Montpelier,  who,  while  a girl,  was  intimate  with  the  Gover- 
nor’s family,  and  knowing  to  the  amusing  incident  at  "-he  time  of  ita 
occurrence.” 


m 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


norse;  and  accordingly  went  to  Mrs.  Jane  Whites^ 
who  had  several  hardy  sons,  and  made  known  his 
wants.  She  was  a true  patriot,  like  her  husband, 
who  was  an  active  u liberty  man”  in  the  war  of  ’7 6 : 
hence  she  was  ready  and  anxious  to  further  the 
Major’s  plans.  Her  sons  being  at  work  in  the  field, 
excepting  the  youngest,  she  called  the  lad,  and 
ordered  him,  in  her  broad  Scotch-Irish  dialect,  to 
“ rin  awa’  ta  the  fiel’  an’  tell  his  brithers  ta  cum  in 
an’  gang  an’  fight  for  their  counthry,  like  their  father 
afore  them.”* 

Among  the  fine  sentiments  quaintly  uttered  by 
the  old  dramatic  poet,  Webster,  are  these: 

The  chiefest  action  of  a man  of  spirit 

Is,  never  to  be  out  of  action ; we  should  think 

The  soul  was  never  to  be  put  into  the  body. 

Which  has  so  many  rare  and  curious  pieces 
Of  mathematical  motion,  to  stand  still. 

Virtue  is  ever  sowing  of  her  seeds. 

One  of  the  models  in  activity  and  virtue,  and  one 
who  doubtless  secured  thereby  the  prize  of  healthy 
and  extreme  old  age,  was  Mrs.  Lydia  Gustin,  a na- 
tive of  Lyme,  Connecticut.  She  had  five  children, 
all  of  whom  were  at  home  to  celebrate  the  hundredth 
anniversary  of  her  birth  day.  She  died  in  New 
Hampshire,  on  the  twentieth  of  July,  1847,  in  the 
hundred  and  second  year  of  her  age.  A part  of 
the  labor  performed  during  her  hundredth  year,  vas 
the  knitting  of  twenty-four  pairs  of  stockings. 


Mrs.  Ellet. 


OF  AlSIERICAN  WOMEN. 


473 


Mrs.  Elizabeth  Ferguson,  who  resided  near  Phila- 
delphia, was  one  of  the  number  who  assisted  the 
American  prisoners  taken  at  the  battle  of  German- 
town. She  spun  linen  and  sent  it  into  the  city,  with 
orders  that  it  be  made  into  shirts.  She  was  noted 
for  humanity  and  benevolence.  Learning,  one  time, 
while  visiting  her  friends  in  Philadelphia,  that  a 
reduced  merchant  had  been  imprisoned  for  debt, 
and  was  suffering  from  destitution,  she  sent  him  a 
bed  and  other  articles  of  comfort,  and,  though  far 
from  wealthy,  put  twenty  dollars  in  money  into  his 
hands.  She  refused  to  give  him  her  name,  but  was 
at  length  identified  by  a description  of  her  person. 

At  the  battle  of  the  Cowpens,  Colonel  Washing- 
ton wounded  Colonel  Tarleton ; and  when  the  latter 
afterwards,  in  conversation  with  Mrs.  Wiley  Jones, 
observed  to  her:  “You  appear  to  think  very  highly 
of  Colonel  Washington;  and  yet  I have  been  told 
that  he  is  so  ignorant  a fellow  that  he  can  hardly 
write  his  own  name she  replied,  u It  may  be  the 
case,  but  no  man  better  than  yourself,  Colonel,  can 
testify  that  he  knows  how  to  make  his  mark.” 


PHILANTHROPY  OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN: 
MISS  DIX. 


To  the  blind,  the  deaf,  the  lame, 

To  the  ignorant  and  vile, 

Stranger,  captive,  slave  he  came, 

With  a welcome  and  a smile. 

Help  to  all  he  did  dispense, 

Gold,  instruction,  raiment,  food  ; 

Like  the  gifts  of  Providence, 

To  the  evil  and  the  good. 

Montgomery. 

It  requires  the  enlightening  and  expanding  influ 
ence  of  Christianity  to  show  the  full  extent  of  fra- 
ternal obligation,  and  to  make  one  feel  the  wants 
of  his  brother’s  threefold  nature.  We  must,  there- 
fore, iook  for  large  hearts,  whose  antennae  stretch 
^ through  the  domain  of  man’s  mental  and  moral,  as 
well  as  his  physical  necessities,  among  a Christian 
people:  there  such  hearts  abound,  and  the  strongest 
are  among  the  female  sex.  Nor  is  this  strange:  the 
feelings  of  woman  are  more  delicate,  her  constitution 
is  less  hardy,  than  man’s.  Physically  more  frail, 
she  feels  more  sensibly  the  need  of  a helper  and 
protector;  and,  being  the  greater  sufferer,  she  thinks 
more  of  the  sufferings  of  others,  and  consequently 
more  ful1  v develops  the  sisterly  and  sympathetic 
feelings  of  her  nature. 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


475 


It  is  not,  therefore,  surprising,  that  in  all  the  hu* 
inanitary  movements  of  the  age,  American  women 
are  interested;  but  it  is  surprising  to  see  with  what 
masculine  energy,  heroic  courage  and  sublime  zeal 
they  often  prosecute  their  philanthropic  labors. . They 
lead  in  the  distribution  of  the  poor  fund:  are  un- 
tiring in  their  efforts  to  sustain  Sabbath  schools  in 
by-places;  form  and  nobly  sustain  temperance  orga- 
nizations among  themselves;  establish  and  conduct 
infant  schools  on  their  own  responsibility;  manage 
orphan  asylums;  pray,  and  plead,  and  labor  for 
the  comfort  of  the  insane,  and  for  the  education  of 
the  deaf,  dumb  and  blind ; and,  with  the  religious 
tract  in  one  hand  and  the  Bible  in  the  other,  plunge 
into  the  darkest  dens  of  vice,  and,  nerved  by  divine 
power,  sow  the  good  seed  of  truth  in  the  most  cor- 
rupt soil,  with  courage  that  seems  to  palsy  the  giant 
arm  of  Infamy. 

Heroines  in  the  philanthropic  movements  which  so 
beautify  the  present  age,  are  found  in  most  of  the 
villages  and  in  every  city  in  the  land.  Isabella 
Graham,  Sarah  Hoffman,  Margaret  Prior,  and  others 
whose  names  are  recorded  in  this  work,  are  represen- 
tatives of  a class  whose  number  is  annually  increas- 
ing and  whose  philanthropic  exertions  are  manifest 
wherever  human  suffering  abounds  or  the  current  of 
moral  turpitude  is  strong  and  appalling.  With  the 
delicacy  and  fragility  inherent  in  their  sex,  they  pos- 
sess the  bravery  and  perseverance  of  the  ambitious 
leader  in  the  military  campaign,  and  shrink  from 
no  task,  however  formidable  or  disheartening. 


476 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


They  visit  the  abode  of  sickness,  and  the  pillow 
is  softened  and  the  pain  allayed;  they  enter  the 
hnt  of  penury,  and  the  cry  for  bread  is  hushed, 
they  pour  the  tide  of  united  and  sanctified  effort 
through  the  Augean  stables  of  iniquity,  and  the 
cleansing  process  is  astonishing.  Such  is  the  work 
of  philanthropic  women;  they  are  the  “ salt 55  of  the 
community. 

A lady  is  now  living  in  the  city  of  Buffalo,  whose 
benevolent  exertions,  in  her  restricted  sphere,  would 
compare  favorably  with  those  of  the  celebrated  Qua-  - 
keress  whose  mission  at  Newgate  justified,  for  once,  at 
least,  the  use  of  angel  as  an  adjective  qualifying 
woman.  The  person  to  whom  we  refer  — who  would 
blush  to  see  her  name  in  print — is  foremost  in  all 
the  humane  and  charitable  operations  of  the  day, 
and  has,  for  years,  been  in  the  habit  of  visiting  the 
jail  regularly  and  usually  alone  on  the  Sabbath,  to 
instruct  its  inmates  from  the  word  of  God  and  to 
lecture  before  them  on  all  that  pertains  to  human 
duty.  She  is  married,  and  has  a family — her  chil- 
dren being  adopted  orphans, — hence  her  opportuni- 
ties for  public  usefulness  are  measurably  limited : but 
her  life-long  actions  seem  to  say, 

“Give  me  leave 

To  speak  my  mind,  and  I will  through  and  through 
Cleanse  the  foul  body  of  the  infected  world, 

If  they  will  patiently  receive  my  medicine.” 

Aside  from  our  female  missionaries,  whose  heroism 
is  elsewhere  partially  illustrated  in  this  work,  the 
finest  example  of  a living  American  philanthropist 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


477 


is  Miss  D.  L.  Dix,  of  Massachusetts.  Her  extreme 
modesty,  learned  through  her  New  England  friends, 
with  whom  we  have  corresponded,  withholds  all  facts 
touching  her  early  and  private  history,  and  leaves 
us  a paucity  of  materials  out  of  which  to  frame 
even  an  outline  of  her  public  career. 

We  first  hear  of  her  as  a teacher  in  the  city  of 
Boston,  in  which  vocation  she  was  faithful  and 
honored.  At  the  same  time,  she  was  connected, 
as  instructor,  with  a Sabbath  school  — belonging 
we  believe,  to  Dr.  Channing’s  society  — and  while 
searching  in  by-places  for  poor  children  to  enlarge  her 
class,  she  necessarily  came  in  contact  with  many  des- 
titute persons,  and  saw  much  suffering.  Ere  long  she 
became  interested  more  especially  in  the  condition 
and  wants  of  poor  seamen,  and  endeavored  to  enlist 
the  sympathies  of  others  in  their  behalf.  As  oppor- 
tunities presented  themselves,  she  visited  the  hospi- 
tal and  other  benevolent  institutions  in  and  near 
Boston,  together  with  the  State  Prison.  Anon  we 
find  her  in  the  possession  of  a small  legacy  left  by 
her  deceased  grand-mother ; and,  having  resigned  the 
office  of  teacher,  she  is  traveling  through  the  state. 
ELaving  visited  all  the  counties  and  most  if  not  all 
the  towns  in  Massachusetts,  hunting  up  the  insane 
and  acquainting  herself  with  their  condition,  visiting 
the  inmates  of  the  poor-houses  and  jails,  and  learning 
the  state  of  things  among  all  the  unfortunate  and 
suffering,  she  went  to  the  Legislature,  made  a report, 
and  petitioned  for  reforms  where  she  thought  they 
were  needed. 


478 


NOBLE  DEEDS 


Having  thoroughly  canvassed  one  state,  feeling  her 
benevolent  heart  expand,  she  entered  another,  and 
went  through  the  same  routine  of  labors  — visiting, 
reporting,  pleading  for  reforms.  She  has  traveled 
through  all  the  states  but  three  or  four,  and  has  ex- 
tended her  humane  mission  \o  Canada. 

She  overlooks  no  almshouse;  never  fails  of  seeing 
and  learning  the  history  of  an  insane  person;  goes 
through  every  jail  and  prison;  and  usually,  if  noi* 
invariably,  has  a private  interview  with  each  inmate, 
imparting  such  counsel  as  wisdom  and  Christian  sym- 
pathy dictate.  She  has  lately  petitioned  Congress 
— as  yet  unsuccessfully — for  a large  appropriation 
of  the  public  lands  for  the  benefit  of  the  insane. 

Her  petitions  are  usually  presented  in  a very  quiet 
and  modest  manner.  In  her  travels,  she  acquaints 
herself  with  the  leading  minds,  and  among  them  the 
state  and  national  legislators ; and  when  the  law- 
making bodies  are  in  session,  she  obtains  an  inter- 
view with  members  in  the  retirement  of  the  parlor  or 
the  small  social  gathering;  communicates  the  facts 
she  has  collected  ; and  secures  their  cooperation  in 
her  plans,  and  their  aid  in  effecting  her  purposes. 

She  who  began  the  work  of  reform  as  a teacher  in 
a Sabbath  school,  has  advanced,  step  by  step,  until  her 
capacious  heart  has  embraced  the  Union,  throughout 
which  the  benign  influence  of  her  philanthropic  la- 
bors is  sensibly  felt.  Some  one  has  truthfully  re- 
marked that  “ the  blessings  of  thousands,  ready  to 
perish,  have  come  down  upon  her  head,55  and  that 
the  institutions  which  she  has  caused  to  be  erected  or 


OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


179 


modified  in  the  several  states  “ are  monuments  more 
honorable,  if  not  more  enduring  than  the  pyramids.51 

While  Miss  Dix  has  brought  about  important  re- 
forms, she  has  accomplished  her  labors  by  great 
hardship  and  the  most  rigid  economy.  She  had  not 
a princely  fortune,  like  Mrs.  Fry,  to  expend  in  be- 
nevolent causes;  she  could  not  ride  from  place  to 
place  in  her  own  private  and  splendid  carriage, 
saying  to  this  servant,  do  this,  and  to  another,  do 
that ; she  has  been  obliged  to  travel  by  public,  hap- 
hazard conveyances  — often  in  most  uncomfortable 
vehicles  in  the  most  uncomfortable  weather.  A part 
of  her  early  labors  in  the  state  of  New  York  were 
performed  in  the  winter,  and  wThen  in  the  north 
eastern  and  coldest  part,  she  was  under  the  necessity, 
on  one  occasion,  of  traveling  all  night  in  the  se- 
verest part  of  the  season  in  an  open  carriage.  To 
show  her  economy,  which  has  been  hinted  at,  it  is 
necessary  merely  to  say  that  she  purchases  the  ma- 
terials for  most  of  her  garments  in  the  places  which 
she  visits,  and  makes  them  up  with  her  own  hands, 
while  traveling  on  steamboats,  waiting  for  stages  at 
public  houses,  and  such  odd  .intervals  of  leisure.* 

The  character  of  Miss  Dix  is  both  pleasant  and 
profitable  to  contemplate.  Every  thing  connected 
with  her  public  career  is  noble  and  worthy  to  be 
imitated.  Would  that  the  world  were  full  of  such 


* For  the  two  last  mentioned  facts,  and  some  others  in  regard  to 
Miss  Dix,  we  are  indebted  to  the  Rev.  U.  W.  Hosmer,  pastor  of 
the  Unitarian  church,  Buffalo. 


48U 


NOBLE  DEEDS  OF  AMERICAN  WOMEN. 


*f~<&  f*H-M 


